4-Star Review From James Croot

The Legend of Baron To'a: Why it's a kick-ass crowdpleasing action-comedy

What follows is a crowdpleasing action-comedy that feels like a cross between Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle, cult Kiwi movie Tongan Ninja and the weird and wacky criminal world of Guy Richie movies.

The Legend of Baron To'a offers a South Auckland suburbia filled with colourful characters and menace around every corner, wonderfully choreographed fight and chase scenes, choice dialogue and plenty of over-the-top male posturing.

While very much a lighter look at South Auckland life than Once Were Warriors and What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, Legend still packs a narrative punch. That it will likely appeal to both younger audiences and those who grew up watching pro-wrestling on TV in the 1970s and '80s just makes it even more of a triumph.