After mere days of release, the latest from Stephen Chow—the comic genius behind The God of Cookery, Shaolin Soccer, and Kung Fu Hustle—became the highest-grossing film in China. (Like, the highest-grossing film in China ever.) But Sony inexplicably fumbled The Mermaid's American release, dumping it in a few scant theaters with no notice, no ads, and not even an email to tell anybody it existed.

That's too bad, because this frantic, sweet fable of a young mermaid (Lin Yun) sent to assassinate a money-grubbing business tycoon (Deng Chao) is a goddamn delight. Part romcom, part musical, part slapstick, and part ecological call-to-arms, the hilarious The Mermaid also serves as a reminder of how visually uninspired and thematically bland American comedies have become—especially when compared to something (anything) from the earnest, clever, wacked-out mind of Chow. This film also features a jetpack.

We didn't review The Mermaid in the Mercury because, quite frankly, we had no idea it was playing in town—it just kind of magically showed showed up at the Fox Tower 10. But instead of watching the Oscars last night, I went and checked it out, and man am I glad I did—it's just great, and it stacks right up there with Chow's best stuff.

Given how little attention Sony is giving this American release (apparently they just didn't think Americans would be all that interested, and hell, given how much money we're currently throwing at a movie like Deadpool, maybe they're right), I wouldn't expect it to stick around in theaters for too long. So go see it while you can. Showtimes are here.