'The Mask of Fu Manchu' is a truly ridiculous film, but not without some merit. The audience it once played for in 1932 is clearly far from the audience that is moviegoers today. This is most evident in the comedy element, which was probably not intended to play as overtly as the director intended. I found myself laughing consistently at the over-the-top portrayal of Fu Manchu and his Eastern counterparts, which really plays more like modern day sketch comedy than a movie storyline. The British, as well, were largely a laughable bunch--everything from their self-important wardrobe to their shameless racism. Of course it's tough to say how much of this was intended by the filmmakers as a sort of cultural satire.
Despite these comedic inconsistencies, 'The Mask of Fu Manchu' manages to hold our attention with a cliché but nevertheless historically effective big-Hollywood plot line. It has everything we've grown accustomed to in a blockbuster: an evil villain, a damsel in distress, a bumbling Brit or two. All we need is a guy in a bat costume, a few more extended portions of pointless but artsy dialogue, Will Ferrell as Fu Manchu, and some improved cinematography, and we'd have a genuine modern-day hit on our hands.
Despite these comedic inconsistencies, 'The Mask of Fu Manchu' manages to hold our attention with a cliché but nevertheless historically effective big-Hollywood plot line. It has everything we've grown accustomed to in a blockbuster: an evil villain, a damsel in distress, a bumbling Brit or two. All we need is a guy in a bat costume, a few more extended portions of pointless but artsy dialogue, Will Ferrell as Fu Manchu, and some improved cinematography, and we'd have a genuine modern-day hit on our hands.