Bullet Points: Wheels on Meals
You don’t have a career that spans more than four decades without evolving. And the career of Jackie Chan has had many phases of evolution.
Phase one, the bit parts that he took as an up and coming actor in Hong Kong.
Phase two, getting the chance to be a martial arts star in the wake of Bruce Lee’s death.
By the early 80’s, Jackie Chan had entered the third phase in his career as he started to expand beyond the traditional chopsocky movies and into the more modern martial arts action movies like 1984’s Wheels on Meals…
- The Heroic Trio: Wheels on Meals tells the tale of three friends living in Barcelona who have their worlds turned upside down after a mysterious woman named Sylvia comes into their lives… Thomas (Jackie Chan, New Fist of Fury) and David (Biao Yuen, Knockabout) first meet Sylvia when they visit David’s father in the mental hospital, the same hospital where Sylvia’s mother resides. It is love at first sight for David… Private investigator Moby (Sammo Hung) is hired by an English butler type to find Sylvia. Moby is not given much to go on, but is told he only has two weeks to track Sylvia down.
- There’s Something About Sylvia: We soon discover that the lovely Sylvia (Lola Forner, Armour of God) is a pick pocket. Sylvia poses as a hooker in order to get a John up to a motel room, where Sylvia proceeds to steal the wallet out of his jacket. When the John realizes what has happened the chase is on and Sylvia finds herself hiding out in a nearby food truck that is owned and operated by David and Thomas. David takes it as fate bringing them together and Sylvia is coming home with the two food truck entrepreneurs.
- Collision Course: The next morning Sylvia rewards David and Thomas’ hospitality by stealing money from them in addition to stealing their neighbor’s car. As Sylvia speeds off, she ends up in a fender bender with Moby of all people! When Sylvia and Moby are outside their cars inspecting the damage… Sylvia swipes Moby’s wallet. Stealing Moby’s wallet ends up being the best thing she could have done because when Sylvia arrives at her home there are men waiting for her, fortunately Moby realizing she took his wallet followed her and comes to her rescue. While Moby is dealing with Sylvia’s would be abductors, Sylvia runs off.
- You’re Hired: It isn’t long before Sylvia crosses paths with David and Thomas again. Sylvia confesses that she’s been out on her own since she was 14, so stealing has become a way of life. David offers her a job taking orders at the food truck so she won’t have to steal anymore, Sylvia accepts. But the guys looking to abduct Sylvia have not given up and while she’s out taking orders they snatch her… fortunately Moby is still on the case, he lets his friends David and Thomas know and this leads to an action packed car chase that includes a spectacular food truck jump!
- The Truth is Revealed: David, Thomas and Moby were able to save Sylvia. Moby arranges a meeting with the man who hired him to find Sylvia and that is when the truth is revealed… Sylvia is the daughter of a Count and the rightful heir to the Count’s fortune, but if she doesn’t claim it two weeks after the Count’s death, it will all go to the Count’s brother, Mondale (José Sancho). It is greedy Mondale who has been sending out his minions to kidnap Sylvia, so he can be sure he gets richer and Sylvia doesn’t inherit her father’s fortune.
- Storming the Castle: We get our first look at Mondale and he is not happy that his hired goons have failed to capture Sylvia. That’s when Mondale’s two top henchmen (played by Keith Vitali and Benny “The Jet” Urquidez respectively) step up and succeed where the others have failed. Now David, Thomas and Moby have to storm Mondale’s castle in order to save Sylvia. This is where Jackie Chan really shines, first as he scales the wall of the castle and then THE FIGHT SCENE of the film… Jackie Chan vs. Benny “The Jet” Urquidez. The whole final act is filled with five star fights involving Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen and Keith Vitali, but Chan/Urquidez rise above and deliver a six or seven star performance. Seriously, if you have never seen the Chan/Urquidez fight you are truly missing out.
Wheels on Meals is the perfect balance of action and comedy with some mystery thrown in and it is all masterfully orchestrated by director Sammo Hung. Looking up and down Wheels on Meals‘ ensemble cast there is not a weak link to be found. So with all the necessary elements in place, it is really no surprise that Wheels on Meals gets my highest recommendation.
Some would say Bonus Bullet Points are a necessary element of a Bullet Points review and I would be one of those people…
- Familiar Face: I am not sure how or why Herb Edelman, an actor primarily known for his television work in the United States got a one scene role in a Hong Kong produced movie that was shot in Spain, but he did. Edelman plays Matt, Moby’s dead beat boss that leaves Moby in charge of the detective agency, when Matt decides it is in his best interest to leave town.
- Memorable Quote: “He’s got somebody else’s lipstick on his underpants!” – Susana
- Montage Alert: There’s a fun day montage with Thomas, David and Sylvia skateboarding and going horseback riding.
- AKA: Wheels on Meals was released as Spanish Connection in India.
