This singular mix of kung-fu, blaxploitation, family film, and music video may seem unwieldy in theory but it is actually quite entertaining. Louis Venosta's script periodically overdoses on goofball humor but makes up for this with plenty of imagination and enthusiasm and Michael Schultz's assured direction deftly blends the humor, action, and music with style. The score, supervised by Motown veteran Willie Hutch, occasionally overdoes its '80s production quirks (drum machines, blooping synthesizers, etc.) but delivers plenty of soulful punch in the film's plentiful action set pieces. In terms of performances, Taimak doesn't exactly have the presence of Bruce Lee but his comic timing is solid and Vanity is surprisingly confident and poised as the sexy damsel in distress. However, the scene-stealing work comes from Julius J. Carry III's rip-snorting performance as Sho Nuff (imagine Rick James as a kung-fu expert) and Christopher Murney's scenery-chewing work as frustrated mogul Eddie Arkadian. In the end, The Last Dragon may be a little too dated and squeaky-clean for action enthusiasts, but its period charms and genial humor are guaranteed to entertain those nostalgic for the '80s.