We really can't get enough of Donnie Yen and he's here again reprising his role as Master Ip Man. This is the last of the franchise (I hope not) and we can't miss this one for the world.
After the death of his wife, he was diagnosed to have cancer due to his excessive smoking. Meanwhile his rebellious son got into another fight and got expelled from school. This made Ip Man decide to send his son to the United States. So he went to San Francisco look for a school for his son. In the process of he needs the help of the Chinese Benevolent Association or CBA. He needs a letter of recommendation from its head Master Wan. CBA has been at odds with a student of Ip Man, Bruce Lee, so unless he helps the CBA in controlling Lee, he won't get that letter from CBA.
Ip Man tried talking to a principal to get his son enrolled when he met with Master Wan's daughter Yonah. He saved her from being bullied in school and he even accompanied him to her house. He met with Master Wan and was accused of using his daughter Yohan so he can get that letter. Master Wan challenges Ip Man to a duel only to be interrupted by an earthquake. Master Wan promises to continue their duel after the mid-autumn festival. Ip Man told him not to continue as he merely accompanied Yonah home just to be safe.
On another part of the story, the girl who bullied Yonah, reported to her parents, her father is an officer of the Immigration Service. In retaliation, this officer then proceeded to arrest Master Wan with trumped up charges of the CBA harboring illegal immigrants.
While he was being arrested, a Karate instructor with the United States Marines went down to disrupt the mid autumn festival by challenging the Kung Fu Masters present. After defeating almost everyone, Ip Man interceded and won over the over zealous instructor.
Afterwards Ip Man and Yonah learned that Master Wan was in the office of the Immigration Service. They wanted to see him but was not able to. They were warned by a student of Bruce Lee who worked in the Immigration Service to inform the CBA that like Master Wan, they will all be arrested. Before the officers could flee, they were beaten by a US Marine Sargeant Geddes (played by Scott Adkins) to proved that Karate is very much superior than Chinese Kung Fu.
Geddes tirades against Chinese Kung Fu didn't end there, thinking that Master Wan defeated the Karate instructer earlier, he proceeded to look for him. He took Master Wan from the custody of the Immigration Service and brought him to their barracks for a duel in front of the recruits. Geddes won over Master Wan almost killing him. During this time, Ip Man helped bring the CBA officers to Bruce Lee's studio there they were informed that Master Wan was taken to a hospital.
Ip Man angered, he asked to be brought to Geddes whom he defeated. Master Wan then prepared that recommendation letter to Ip Man, He had decided then that he won't be bringing his son to the United States but instead he will teach his son Wing Chun.
Ip died in 1972 of head and throat cancer and Bruce Lee came to pay his respects to his teacher. In the end, the US Marines finally accepted Chinese Kung Fu as one their instructions for combat training.
After watching the other Ip Man films (which we loved) this finale is truly different. This was the only martial arts film that we cried not once but twice. Unlike the other films that showed Chinese Kung Fu being ridiculed and eventually fought back to earn its credibility (this film has the same premise) this one showed the discrimination of Chinese in the United States. What made us emotional in this film is the inclusion of Ip Man and his son's rocky relationship.
There were a lot of things to chew here but it was tastefully and wonderfully done. It still had that martial arts appeal to it yet it showed family emotions. It took Ip to realize his son's passion after seeing Yonah's experience with his father Master Wan. He later realized this in the end and this made our eyes bring down tears to our cheeks.
Donnie Yen truly is the Ip Man and he owned the role. We saw Yen in the iconic role for so many times yet we don't get tired watching him. So it was just befitting that he played the role till the death of Ip Man.
Because the movie tackled a lot of things most of the characters were left with short or inadequate character development. There were some scenes that bewildered us but we had to let it go as we don't expect much from a martial arts movie. So we were surprised to find a father/son and father/daughter emotional entanglements herein.
If you have watched all or some of the Ip Man films, this one is a great ending to it all.
