Drew Dietsch Published
The cop action film reached its peak in the 1980s, but it remained a comfortable and popular avenue for moviegoers into the 1990s. However, people are ready for fresher material, and an old-school buddy cop movie needs to inject its own unique flavor into it. this is what we get Showdown in Little Tokyoa 1991 Los Angeles shooter starring Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV, universal soldier) and rising action star Jason Lee, son of film icon Bruce Lee.
Unfortunately, due to studio re-edits and dumping by Warner Bros. (they are good at dumping movies), Showdown in Little Tokyo Ultimately a forgotten and unpopular little film, thankfully it has developed a cult following over the years. After watching it for the first time, I realized how robbed we were of a Brothers Cop franchise that could have spun off from this little film.
Why Showdown at Little Tokyo Rocks
Showdown in Little Tokyo Police officer Chris Kenner (Lundgren), who grew up in Japan, has a new partner, Detective Johnny Murata (Lee), an American of Japanese descent. However, Murata doesn’t care about Japanese culture and doesn’t even know much about it. Meanwhile, Kenner lives a very traditional Japanese fashion. This cartoony setting is funnier than you might think, especially since Lee and Lundgren actually have some hilarious but endearing chemistry.
Add mixed kali-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Kombat, phantom) as a truly evil, extreme gangster villain with Kenner’s past and Showdown in Little Tokyo It’s a cliche cheese that you either love or can’t stand. Yes, it has its “problematic” elements, but it’s also a product of its time. Not to mention it’s so ridiculous and embraces a cartoony feel. It’s as silly as a Saturday morning can get and shouldn’t be taken too seriously because it’s the best representation of Asian American cinema.
Instead, enjoy the Tambo friendship that quickly blossoms between Lundgren and Lee. Enjoy a brisk and compact 79-minute running time—admittedly, Warner Bros. allegedly cut 10 minutes, according to director Mark L. Lester—that ensures the high-octane performance remains high for maximum entertainment. keynote. Go ahead and watch the first big action scene and tell me this doesn’t look like a popcorn good time:
If this doesn’t seem like the kind of movie that would put a smile on your face, I don’t know if we could be friends.
The franchise we never got
Showdown in Little Tokyo It was put into theaters back in August 1991, debuting at No. 16. coin. The film raised over $2 million before closing at the box office. A few years later, Li Guohao died in an accident on the set. crow. After his death, his films received even more reappraisal. still, Showdown in Little Tokyo shows the true potential of Lee and Lundgren as a buddy cop duo. Their goofball charm comes from the goofy warmth shown in the movie.
It makes me wish we could see at least one more movie with these two. Lundgren’s character gets a lot more focus in terms of backstory and perspective. The sequel will give Lee the opportunity to delve into Johnny Murata’s history and how to strengthen his connection with Kenna. The idea of a series of movies with these two cartoon goofballs felt like it existed in an alternate universe that I desperately wanted to visit.
Sadly, we only have Showdown in Little Tokyo For this particular screen pairing. If you’ve never seen it, then let its cheesy goodness melt away on you in less time than it takes most modern action blockbusters. If you have 79 minutes, you could do much worse.
