SINGAPORE : Here's a fool-proof formula to film-making: All you have to do is combine some of the most lucrative properties of Asian cinema (also known as gongfu comedy), base your story on a hugely-successful smash hit of similar name (Shaolin Soccer, in this case), throw in some kawaii Japanese girls, and there you go — instant hit!

Unless your movie is Shaolin Girl.

Stephen Chow’s gongfu comedy Shaolin Soccer was an immense success back in 2001, but he famously resisted any direct sequels, choosing to join forces with Japanese producer Chihiro Kameyama (Bayside Shakedown) to make this Japanese spin-off instead.

The set-up is almost the same; the result, unfortunately, vastly different.

Like the original, the story revolves around cutesy Shaolin prodigy Rin, who gets to show off her skills when she joins the university lacrosse team.

Like all other martial arts flicks, the lone warrior with superpower abilities must learn to become a team player.

Thus, the film turns into a strange videogame-esque action film in which our misunderstood heroine must fight through a pagoda of henchmen to save her friend (CJ7’s Kitty Zhang) from the evil university president, whose main hobby seems to be working out topless.

Yes, it is all true, we kid you not.

The film starts off with a couple of easy first laughs at the fun, almost cartoony visuals of super-sonic speeding balls that glow with fire, and the male audience will be satiated by scenes of uniform-clad girls acting all adorable in typical Japanese fashion.

However, not even the inclusion of two of the Shaolin brothers from the original can hide the fact that this convoluted groan-inducing film lacks the punch, or the focus, to do any justice to its Chinese predecessor. - TODAY/sh