Separated at birth during a hospital shootout, identical brothers Ma Yau and Hok Min (Chan and Chan) do not meet again until they're grown-ups. (Incidentally, their names roughly translate as Prince and Tramp, respectively; unsubtle allusion to "The Prince and the Pauper" though that may be, the American-ized monikers in Dimension Films' 1999 dub-job of this 1993 movie show even less imagination: "John Ma" and "Boomer". Boomer?) Ma Yau spent a great many years abroad studying music and has returned to his homeland to conduct the Hong Kong orchestra, while mechanic Hok Min works in the garage of the hotel where his sibling is staying. To quote the box art of Universe's DVD release: "Fun continues as they can not be distinguished."

Or extinguished. After reuniting in a washroom, the twins decide to keep their separate identities a secret, in order to better romance the women in their lives (Hok Min prefers Ma Yau's lady companion and vice versa). This social ignorance to Hok Min's double also helps him evade capture by a local crimelord, whom he beat in a deadly boat race. Deft farce ensues; memorably, a scene in which the girlfriend of Ma Yau (Hok Min, technically) invites a brother into the tub and ends up bathing with both, thinking the other man in the tub is a reflection. Split-screen effects here and elsewhere are magnificent, by the by, and Jackie's physical references to the myth that twins are telepathically linked--when Ma Yau tickles the ivories, Hok Min can't stop fidgeting, that sort of thing--are funny and graceful, if, like the running gag of people fainting at the sight of Hok Min and Ma Yau together, overdone.

Hand-to-hand combat is generally withheld until the final showdown, and even then there seems an unusual reticence on Jackie's part to go fast and furious. Additionally, the climax's dim, chop-shop setting is uninspired, although the filmmakers pull out some exciting last-minute car-play. As a demonstration of Jackie's slapstick dexterity, Twin Dragons really scores, however, and despite the fact that a few subplots still remain unresolved, the original Chinese version is more fulfilling at 104 minutes than Dimension's is at 90. Neither contains the Jackie Chan tradition of closing outtakes.

HK Flix stocks the longer cut, on Universe Video's region-free (a.k.a. "R9") NTSC DVD (meaning it's compatible with North American players). Thanks to the occasional typo, optional English subs add to the hilarity ("God split us up, but I do not balm [sic] him"); the presentation is nonetheless acceptable. Specs: non-anamorphic 2.35:1 (looks to be a LaserDisc port); 5.1 Dolby Digital audio in Catonese and Mandarin (the increasingly rare Dolby 'helicopter' logo introduces the disc, a cool bonus); and talent bios for Chan and company in both English and Cantonese.

You can purchase this DVD at HK Flix--click here for a direct link.-Bill Chambers

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