Butt-kicking babes give life to ‘D.O.A.’
Martial-arts spoof features silly plot but movie’s goal is to be fun
By Barry Caine, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, September 6, 2007

Critics panned “D.O.A.: Dead or Alive” when the martial-arts spoof debuted in theaters — most likely because they couldn’t stomach the froth or were disappointed that it wasn’t another remake of “D.O.A.,” the drama about a poisoned man searching for his murderer before he dies. (The Edmond O’Brien version beget the Dennis Quaid version, which beget the Jason Statham update, “Crank.”)

Like the recently released “Balls of Fury,” the newest “D.O.A.,” on DVD this week, parodies Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon.” Unlike “Fury,” “D.O.A.” is entertaining. Lively and amusing, the film features a bunch of buff, butt-kicking babes as its heroes; think “Charlie’s Angels” with B talent.

Jaime Pressly, the most recognizable star from her role on “My Name Is Earl,” plays a wrestler supreme invited along with a Ninja princess (Devon Aoki), an assassin-thief (Holly Valance) and a host of boorish rugged males to compete for $10 million and the title “World’s Best Fighter” in an exclusive tourney on a secluded island.

Of course, there’s more to it — including revenge, mystery, thievery, courting, sparking, computer high jinks and an arch villain (Eric Roberts).

The plot’s silly but the plot’s not the point; the point’s the action and the fun. Created by Cory Yuen, Bruce Lee’s stand-in and director of “The Transporter,” the picture is loaded with fancy fighting, balletic moves and chiseled pecs. And, with the exception of the hammy Roberts, the actors give it their best — and, like the movie itself, they refuse to take themselves seriously.

Extras: The making-of documentary “East Meets West: Behind the Action of ‘D.O.A.’” provides diverting peeks into the actors’ training and wire work, Yuen’s animated directing style and the handsome China locales; no commentary.

From San Jose Mercury News

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