In the post-"48 Hrs."/post-"Lethal Weapon" era of the countless Hollywood "buddy" movies made in the 1980s and 1990s, the Mark L. Lester-directed "Showdown in Little Tokyo" popped up on the scene in 1991. While mostly remembered now by cult movie aficionados, the movie unfortunately never really rises above its "buddy" movie trappings, but it does have one thing going for it - and that is the believable chemistry between its two stars, which also marks one of the earliest unions of East and West (a la, the later "Rush Hour" series that starred Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker).
Of course, "Showdown" stars Dolph Lundgren (of "Rocky IV" and "Masters of the Universe") and the late Brandon Lee (son of deceased martial arts legend Bruce Lee, in his first American film role). Lundgren plays Sergeant Chris Kenner, a rule-breaking LAPD cop steeped in Eastern traditions and with a personal vendetta against the Yakuza (Japanese mafia). Lee plays Johnny Murata, a wise-cracking, half-Japanese "Valley kid" who is about as American as they come.
Once partnered up, they don't like each other and have conflicting viewpoints of catching bad guys. But the one thing that they both know how to do, and do well, is kick butt, and their lethal martial arts skills come in handy when they square off against the Iron Claw Yakuza Clan, who are led by the bloodthirsty Yoshida (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), and they must also protect Minako (Tia Carrere), the beautiful nightclub singer who knows some important information about the Yakuza that will help their case.
As stated earlier, "Showdown in Little Tokyo" never really rises above its genre conventions, but the teaming of the towering Dolph Lundgren with the lithe and agile Brandon Lee was an inspired on-screen match-up. And all-purpose bad guy Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa makes for an imposing adversary. Most of the script's one-liners are either hit-or-miss, but the film's requisite action scenes are nicely filmed and choreographed.
At a brisk 79 minutes, "Showdown in Little Tokyo" is an enjoyable little martial arts action-comedy, but not much else. It's pretty good for an afternoon when you don't have much going on and basically have an hour-and-a-half to kill.
You most likely won't regret it.
6/10
Of course, "Showdown" stars Dolph Lundgren (of "Rocky IV" and "Masters of the Universe") and the late Brandon Lee (son of deceased martial arts legend Bruce Lee, in his first American film role). Lundgren plays Sergeant Chris Kenner, a rule-breaking LAPD cop steeped in Eastern traditions and with a personal vendetta against the Yakuza (Japanese mafia). Lee plays Johnny Murata, a wise-cracking, half-Japanese "Valley kid" who is about as American as they come.
Once partnered up, they don't like each other and have conflicting viewpoints of catching bad guys. But the one thing that they both know how to do, and do well, is kick butt, and their lethal martial arts skills come in handy when they square off against the Iron Claw Yakuza Clan, who are led by the bloodthirsty Yoshida (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), and they must also protect Minako (Tia Carrere), the beautiful nightclub singer who knows some important information about the Yakuza that will help their case.
As stated earlier, "Showdown in Little Tokyo" never really rises above its genre conventions, but the teaming of the towering Dolph Lundgren with the lithe and agile Brandon Lee was an inspired on-screen match-up. And all-purpose bad guy Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa makes for an imposing adversary. Most of the script's one-liners are either hit-or-miss, but the film's requisite action scenes are nicely filmed and choreographed.
At a brisk 79 minutes, "Showdown in Little Tokyo" is an enjoyable little martial arts action-comedy, but not much else. It's pretty good for an afternoon when you don't have much going on and basically have an hour-and-a-half to kill.
You most likely won't regret it.
6/10