The Last Dragon (1985) - Brief Review

Julius Carry as Sho'nuff in The Last Dragon

The Last Dragon isn't technically perfect, by any means, but it is a deliriously good time, elevated by the supporting cast, production design, and its refusal to take itself seriously amid an absurd plot-line.

Taimak plays Leroy Green (aka Bruce Lee-roy). Leroy lives in Harlem but appears to have convinced himself that he is a Chinese peasant. He trains in the martial arts but struggles to find "the final level." While Leroy seeks peace and enlightenment, a villainous cad by the name of Sho'nuff is seeking to fight Leroy to prove that he is the baddest mofo in all of Harlem. Meanwhile, Leroy becomes mixed up in Vanity's problems as she tries to evade a mobster and wannabe star girlfriend.

The first half of this film is a highlight as it goes about its business with tongue firmly in cheek. There’s some fun 80s production design and a lot of advertising for producer Berry Gordy's music acts. Things dip in the second half mainly thanks to the lack of chemistry between Vanity and Taimak. They’re a complete mismatch. It is more uncomfortable and even creepy than romantic. The action is mostly solid, if perhaps a bit too sparse at times (oddly, child star Ernie Reyes shows up almost out of nowhere for the climax and ends up nearly stealing the action show). The movie overall is genuinely fun and it is one of those films from my childhood that retains rather than ruins the nostalgic appeal when I watch it now. Huge credit to the supporting cast, especially Julius Carry as Sho'nuff, Christopher Murney as a mobster with delusions of grandeur, and Faith Prince as a Cyndi Lauper wannabe with a heart of gold. Worth some laughs, some fun pokes at racial stereotypes, and some decent action.

Screened on Crackle.