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By Drew Dietsch | Published
The buddy cop action movie subgenre had peaked in the 1980s, but continued to be a comfortable and welcome avenue for moviegoers into the 1990s. However, people were ready for fresher takes on the material and an old-fashioned buddy cop movie needed to inject its own particular flavor into the mix. This is how we get Showdown in Little Tokyoa 1991 shoot-em-up in Los Angeles that reunited Dolph Lundgren (rocky iv, universal soldier) and rising action star Brandon Lee, son of movie icon Bruce Lee.
Unfortunately, due to a re-release and studio scrap by none other than Warner Bros. (they’re good at getting rid of movies), Showdown in Little Tokyo It ended a forgotten and unwanted little film that has fortunately developed a cult following over the years. After watching it for the first time, I realize how bereft we were of a buddy cop franchise that could have emerged from this little movie.
Why showdown in Little Tokyo Rocks?
Showdown in Little Tokyo Sergeant 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 or know much about Japanese culture. Meanwhile, Kenner lives his life in the very traditional Japanese style. This cartoon setup allows for more fun than you might expect, especially since Lee and Lundgren actually have a slapstick but endearing chemistry.
Add to the mix Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (mortal kombat, The ghost) as a truly diabolical and over-the-top Yakuza villain with a tie to Kenner’s past and Showdown in Little Tokyo It’s the kind of cliché cheese that you either love or can’t stand. Yes, it has its “problematic” elements but it is also a product of its time. Not to mention it’s so absurd and embraces that cartoon sensibility. It’s as silly a Saturday morning as it gets and shouldn’t be taken too seriously as the best representation of Asian-American cinema.
Instead, enjoy the himbo camaraderie that quickly blossoms between Lundgren and Lee. Enjoy the energetic and packed 79-minute runtime (admittedly, Warner Bros. reportedly cut ten minutes according to director Mark L. Lester) that ensures to keep the tone high with maximum entertainment. Go ahead and watch the first big action scene and tell me this doesn’t seem like a good time for popcorn:
If that doesn’t sound like the kind of movie that would make you smile, I don’t know if 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. Ugh. It grossed just over $2 million before ending its run at the box office. A few years later, Brandon Lee would tragically lose his life after an accident on the set of the crow. After his death, his films gained more appreciation. Still, Showdown in Little Tokyo showed real promise for both Lee and Lundgren as a buddy cop duo. His goofy charms came from a place of ridiculous warmth that comes through in the film.
It makes me wish we could have seen at least one more movie with these two. Lundgren’s character receives more attention when it comes to backstory and perspective. A sequel would have given Lee a chance to dive into Johnny Murata’s story and how that could strengthen his bond with Kenner. The idea of a movie series featuring these two cartoon characters seems like it exists in an alternate universe that I desperately want to visit.
Unfortunately we only have Showdown in Little Tokyo for this particular on-screen pairing. If you’ve never seen it, let its cheesy goodness melt away in less time than it takes most modern blockbuster action movies to get going. You could do a lot worse with 79 minutes of your time.
