By Drew Dietsch
| Published
The buddy cop action movie subgenre had its heyday in the 1980s, but it remained a comfortable and welcome avenue for moviegoers into the ’90s. However, people were ready for fresher takes on the material and an old-fashioned buddy movie had to inject its own special flavor into the mix. This is how we got Confrontation in Little Tokyoa 1991 Los Angeles shoot-em-up featuring Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV, Universal Soldier) and rising action star Brandon Lee, the son of movie icon Bruce Lee.
Unfortunately, due to studio re-editing and dumping by none other than Warner Bros. (they are good at movie dumping), Confrontation in Little Tokyo ended up being a forgotten and unwanted little film that thankfully became a cult favorite over the years. After watching it for the first time, I realize how much we’ve been deprived of a buddy cop franchise that could have come from this little treat of a film.
Why Showdown at Little Tokyo Rocks
Confrontation in Little Tokyo has Sergeant Chris Kenner (Lundgren), who grew up in Japan, with a new partner, Detective Johnny Murata (Lee), a Japanese American. However, Murata doesn’t care or even know much about Japanese culture. Meanwhile, Kenner lives his life in very traditional Japanese ways. This cartoon setup allows for more fun than expected, particularly because Lee and Lundgren actually have a slapstick but endearing chemistry.
Add to the mixture Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Combat, The Ghost) as a truly evil and over-the-top Yakuza villain with a connection to Kenner’s past and Confrontation in Little Tokyo is the kind of cliché cheese you either love or can’t stand. Yes, it has its “problematic” elements, but it’s also a product of its times. 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 in that it’s the best representation of Asian-American cinema.
Instead, enjoy the himbo camaraderie that quickly blossoms between Lundgren and Lee. Savor the fast, busy 79-minute running time – admittedly, ten minutes would have been cut by Warner Bros. according to director Mark L. Lester – which is guaranteed to keep the tone high for maximum entertainment. Go ahead, watch the first big action scene and tell me it doesn’t look like a good popcorn moment:
If this doesn’t sound like the kind of movie that would make you smile, I don’t know if we can friends.
The franchise we never had
Confrontation in Little Tokyo was shown in theaters in August 1991 and opened at #16. Phew. It went on to gross just over $2 million before ending its box office run. A few years later, Brandon Lee would tragically lose his life after an accident on the set of The Raven. After his death, his films were further reevaluated. Always, Confrontation in Little Tokyo presented real promise for Lee and Lundgren as a buddy cop duo. Their silly charms come from a place of awkward warmth that shines through the film.
It makes me wish we could see at least one more movie with these two. Lundgren’s character is given more attention when it comes to backstory and perspective. A sequel would have given Lee the opportunity to delve into Johnny Murata’s story and see how it could strengthen his bond with Kenner. The idea of a movie series starring these two cartoon jokers feels like it exists in an alternate universe that I desperately want to visit.
Unfortunately, we only have Confrontation in Little Tokyo for this particular on-screen pairing. If you’ve never seen it, let its cheesy goodness wash over you in less time than it takes most modern blockbuster action films to get going. You could do a lot worse with 79 minutes of your time.
