Drew Deetsch issued
The buddy cop subgenre of action movies peaked in the 1980s, but continued to be a comfortable and welcome avenue for moviegoers well into the ’90s. But people were ready for a fresher take on this material, and the classic buddy cop movie needed to inject its own flavor into the mix. this is how we got Showdown in Little Tokyoa 1991 Los Angeles shooter starring Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV, universal solder) and up-and-coming action star Brandon Lee, the son of movie icon Bruce Lee.
Unfortunately, it was re-cut by the studio and scrapped by none other than Warner Brothers (they’re great at scrapping movies). Showdown in Little Tokyo It ended up being a forgotten and unwanted little movie, but thankfully it has developed a cult following over the years. After watching this movie for the first time, I realized how much we were robbed of the buddy cop franchise that was born out of this movie’s little pleasures.
Why do we face off at Little Tokyo Rocks?
Showdown in Little Tokyo Detective Sergeant Chris Kenner (Lundgren), who was raised in Japan, finds a new partner in Japanese-American Detective Johnny Murata (Lee). However, Murata is indifferent or doesn’t know much about Japanese culture. Kenner, on the other hand, lives his life in a very traditional Japanese style. The setting of this comic turns out to be more fun than expected, especially since Lee and Lundgren actually have a clownish but endearing chemistry.
Add to mix Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa (mortal kombat, phantom) as a truly nefarious, extreme Yakuza villain with ties to Kenner’s past. Showdown in Little Tokyo This is a clichéd cheese that you either love or can’t stomach. Yes, there are “problematic” elements, but it’s also a product of its time. Needless to say, it’s highly absurd and takes on a comic book feel. This is a silly Saturday morning movie that shouldn’t be taken too seriously as much as it represents Asian American cinema at its best.
Instead, enjoy the rapidly blossoming himbo friendship between Lundgren and Lee. Enjoy a snappy, jam-packed 79-minute running time. Indeed, Warner Bros. reportedly trimmed the length by 10 minutes, according to director Mark L. Lester. This keeps you uplifted with top-notch entertainment. Now watch the first big action scene and tell me this doesn’t look like it’s going to be a popcorn fun time:
If that doesn’t seem like the kind of movie that brings a smile to your face, I’m not sure we can be friends.
The franchise we never got
Showdown in Little Tokyo ‘ was released in theaters in August 1991 and debuted at number 16. Oops. It then collected just over $2 million by the time it closed at the box office. A few years later, Brandon Lee was tragically killed in an accident on set. Crow. After his death, his films became even more re-evaluated. still, Showdown in Little Tokyo Lee and Lundgren showed real promise as a buddy cop duo. Their goofy charm comes from the goofy warmth that comes through in the film.
I wish I had seen at least one more movie with these two in it. There is more focus on Lundgren’s character when it comes to backstory and perspective. A sequel would have given Lee a chance to learn more about Johnny Murata’s history and how it would strengthen his bond with Kenner. The idea of a series of movies about these two laughing-headed comics feels like they exist in an alternate universe that I would love to visit.
Unfortunately, what we have is Showdown in Little Tokyo For this particular on-screen pairing. If you haven’t seen it yet, let the cheesy goodness melt through your veins in less time than it takes for a modern action blockbuster to start playing. If you have 79 minutes, you could do worse.
