’90s Buddy Cop Franchise Hijacked by Failure and Tragedy

Pa Drew Dych
| Published 3 days ago

The buddy cop action subgenre peaked in the 1980s, but it continued to be a convenient and welcome avenue for moviegoers well into the ’90s. However, people were ready for a fresher take on the material, and the old-fashioned buddy cop movie had to inject its own special twist into the mix. That’s how we got it Showdowns in Little Tokyothe 1991 Los Angeles shooting that claimed Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV, Universal soldier) and rising action star Brandon Lee, son of cinematographer Bruce Lee.

Unfortunately, due to studio reworking and dumping by none other than Warner Bros. (they are good at dumping movies), Showdowns in Little Tokyo an ultimately forgotten and unwanted little film that has thankfully become a cult following over the years. After watching it for the first time, I realized how much we’ve been deprived of the buddy cop franchise that could have come from this little treat of a movie.

Why Showdown at Little Tokyo Rocks

Showdowns in Little Tokyo Sergeant Chris Kenner (Lundgren), who grew up in Japan, has a new partner, Detective Johnny Murata (Lee), a Japanese-American. However, Murata doesn’t care about or even know much about Japanese culture. Meanwhile, Kenner lives in very traditional Japanese fashion. This cartoonish setup makes for more fun than you might expect, especially since there’s actually some goofy but endearing chemistry between Lee and Lundgren.

Add to the mix Carey-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Deadly battle, Ghost) as a truly diabolical over-the-top Yakuza villain linked to Kenner’s past and Showdowns in Little Tokyo it’s the type of cliche cheese that you either love or can’t stomach. Yes, it has its “problematic” elements, but it’s also a product of its time. Not to mention it’s so absurd and embraces cartoon sensibilities. This is as good a Saturday morning as you can get, and it shouldn’t be taken too seriously as it is the best representation of Asian American cinema.

Instead, enjoy the himbo friendship that quickly blossoms between Lundgren and Lee. Enjoy a lively and packed 79 minutes – ten minutes are admittedly cut by Warner Bros. according to director Mark L. Lester’s is guaranteed to keep the tone high while having the most fun. Go ahead and watch the first big fight scene and tell me it doesn’t look like popcorn:

If that doesn’t sound like the kind of movie that would put a smile on your face, I don’t know if we can be friends.

A franchise we never got

Showdowns in Little Tokyo was thrown into theaters back in August of 1991 and opened at #16. Ouch. It grossed just over $2 million before it stopped rolling. A few years later, Brandon Lee died tragically after an accident on set Crow. After his death, his films received a greater appreciation. However, Showdowns in Little Tokyo showed real perspective for Lee and Lundgren as cop buddies. Their fascination with moons comes from the silly warmth that permeates the film.

I wish we could see at least one more movie with these two. Lundgren’s character is given more focus when it comes to backstory and point of view. A sequel would give Lee a chance to delve into Johnny Murata’s story and see how it could strengthen his bond with Kenner. The idea of ​​a movie series featuring these two cartoonish jesters feels like it exists in an alternate universe that I desperately want to visit.

Unfortunately, we only have Showdowns in Little Tokyo for that particular screen combination. If you’ve never seen it, let its flavor wash over you in less time than it takes to launch most of today’s blockbuster action movies. You could do a lot worse with 79 minutes of your time.