18 Fingers of Death!

Story Line: B-list martial arts actor Buford Lee (Lew) scurries around Hollywood trying to raise funds to make his breakout film. He gets by with a little help from his enthusiastic fans.

Bottom Line: The cliché-ridden martial arts genre is ripe for a This is Spinal Tap-like spoof, but 18 Fingers of Death! isn't it. The gags don't come nearly fast enough, and the budgetary limitations are woefully apparent in the film's production values, particularly lighting and sound. The best parts are the characterizations—Patton and Arturo are instantly likeable—and the cameos, including Lamas as "Antonio Bandana" in an El Mariachi parody and Bokeem Woodbine as "Billy Buff" in a takeoff on Billy Blanks' Tae Bo workout (called "Bo Thai"). Don "The Dragon" Wilson and Robin Chou make appearances, but shockingly, they're pointless dialog scenes, not action. First-time helmer Lew, a highly respected fight choreographer, pulls punches in mocking the chop-socky genre by keeping the outrageousness painfully low—no wire-work gags?—and by giving himself little to do besides look disappointed at his career trajectory, an aspect painfully close to reality that further dampens the laughs. Martial arts fans waiting for Kung Fu Hustle 2 are the best bet for some rental action.