While it moves from a really strong start to weaker material across its clearly defined three acts (a largely action‑driven first, a rom‑com‑coded second, and a final act mixing melodrama and action), this is still a very funny film with brutally gripping violence and great chemistry between the two leads, despite the extremely sugary romance.

To some extent, the genre soup, with its constantly shifting mood, brings the film down a little, but what really takes you out of it is the heavily caricatured presentation of the gangs (both Italian and Chinese) and a plot that relies far too much on exposition dumps.

Nevertheless, the truth is that where the film places its focus (the sharp comedic dialogue, the performances, and the Jackie Chan‑esque action, taken up a notch with blood and gore that will make you both queasy and cheer) is executed so well that it is impossible to leave the cinema anything other than thoroughly satisfied.