The Last Dragon

Right now you can watch The Last Dragon on streaming — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Taimak sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

The Last Dragon arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate The Last Dragon from the crowd. A young man searches for the "master" to obtain the final level of martial arts mastery known as the glow. Along the way he must fight an evil martial arts expert and rescue a beautiful singer from an obsessed music promoter. Taimak and Vanity lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1985. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and The Last Dragon holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in The Last Dragon. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Taimak's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.