Period kung fu farces do not come much better than this terrific independent production, which serves up lively, infectious humor amid outstanding martial arts. A master of the spear (Lau Kar-wing, who also directed) and a master of the sword (Sammo Hung Kam-po) have a duel every ten years to determine whose technique is superior. Their bouts have all ended in draws and, now that they are getting on in years, the men decide to recruit pupils to carry on the tradition for them. The swordmaster drafts a foul-tempered lad who spends half of his time trying to kill him, while the spearmaster enlists rotund boatman Yao to be his successor. After extensive training, the pair finally have their fight but, midway through, they are kidnapped! The perpetrator is Hsiao Pa-tien (Leung Kar-yan), an old enemy who was disfigured during skirmishes with the two elderly masters and is using their new pupils to lure the men into a trap.

Sammo Hung and Lau Kar-wing are at the top of their form here and have ample opportunities to display their skills because, in a great twist, Hung's pupil in the film is played by Lau and vice versa! The premise simply provides a loose framework for numerous kung fu setpieces as the pupils test their newly acquired skills against every ruffian and buffoon that crosses their path. Hung participates in a showstopping Peking Opera parody and there is even a little anachronistic humor, courtesy of the ever obnoxious Dean Shek Tien as lecherous "Mr. Rocking," whose every appearance is accompanied by a drum solo! Feng Sing/Mars (as Potato, an homage to Master Q’s like-named sidekick), Lee Hoi-sang, Karl Maka, Peter Chan Lung, Chung Fat, Ho Pak-kwong, Lam Ching-ying, and Billy Chan Wui-ngai (who also worked behind the scenes on the action with Lam and Yuen Biao) are among the supporting players.