The "Once Upon a Time in China" series has been a staple of Hong Kong action cinema, with its unique blend of martial arts and historical drama. However, the 1997 installment, "Once Upon a Time in China and America", attempts to shake things up by transporting the legendary hero Wong Fei-hung to the American West. Unfortunately, this ambitious experiment falls flat, resulting in a disjointed and uninspired film that fails to live up to the standards set by its predecessors. The movie's jarring mix of Eastern and Western elements, coupled with a meandering plot and lackluster action sequences, makes for a disappointing viewing experience.

The film's biggest problem lies in its inability to effectively integrate the martial arts genre with the Western setting. The story, which revolves around Wong Fei-hung's disciple So, who travels to the United States to open a martial arts school, feels like a contrived excuse to showcase the fish-out-of-water antics of a Chinese hero in a foreign land. The cultural clashes and comedic misunderstandings that ensue are predictable and lacking in subtlety, relying on broad stereotypes and caricatures. Furthermore, the action scenes, which are typically a highlight of the series, are few and far between, and when they do occur, they are marred by sloppy choreography and unimpressive set pieces.

Despite its shortcomings, the film does attempt to tackle some interesting themes, such as the plight of Chinese immigrants in the American West and the tensions between different cultural groups. However, these themes are not fully developed, and the movie's message is ultimately muddled and unclear. The usually reliable Sammo Hung, who directs and stars in the film, seems to be struggling to find his footing in this unfamiliar territory. The result is a movie that feels like a mess of conflicting ideas and half-baked concepts, rather than a cohesive and engaging work of cinema. Overall, while die-hard fans of the series may find some fleeting moments of entertainment, "Once Upon a Time in China and America" is a skippable entry in the franchise that fails to deliver on its promising premise.