By Drew Dietsch
| Published
The buddy cop sub-genre of action movies had peaked in the 1980s but it continued to be a comfortable and welcome avenue for moviegoers into the ‘90s. However, folks were ready for fresher takes on the material and an old-fashioned buddy cop flick needed to inject its own particular flavor into the mix. That’s how we got Showdown in Little Tokyo, a 1991 Los Angeles shoot-em-up that brought together Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV, Universal Solider) and rising action star Brandon Lee, the son of cinema icon Bruce Lee.
Unfortunately, due to a studio re-cut and dumping by none other than Warner Bros. (they’re good at dumping movies), Showdown in Little Tokyo ended up a forgotten and unwanted little movie that has thankfully grown a cult following over the years. After watching it for the first time, I realize just how robbed we were of a buddy cop franchise that could have spun out of this little treat of a movie.
Why Showdown in Little Tokyo Rocks
Showdown in Little Tokyo has Sergeant Chris Kenner (Lundgren), who was raised in Japan, getting a new partner, Detective Johnny Murata (Lee), an American with Japanese heritage. However, Murata doesn’t care or even know much about Japanese culture. Meanwhile, Kenner lives his life in very traditional Japanese fashions. This cartoon setup allows for more fun than you would expect, especially because Lee and Lundgren actually have some buffoonish but endearing chemistry.
Add to the mix Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Kombat, The Phantom) as a truly diabolical over-the-top Yakuza villain with a tie to Kenner’s past and Showdown in Little Tokyo is the kind of cliche cheese 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 that cartoon sensibility. It’s a Saturday morning silly as you can get and shouldn’t be taken too seriously as far as being the best representation of Asian-American cinema.
Instead, enjoy the himbo camaraderie that blossoms rapidly between Lundgren and Lee. Relish in the brisk and jam-packed 79-minute running time – admittedly, ten minutes were allegedly cut by Warner Bros. according to director Mark L. Lester – that makes sure to keep the heightened tone at maximum entertainment. Go ahead and watch the first big action scene and tell me this doesn’t look like a popcorn good time:
If that doesn’t look like the kind of movie that would put a smile on your face, I don’t know if we can be friends.
The Franchise We Never Got
Showdown in Little Tokyo was thrown into theaters back in August 1991 and opened in the #16 spot. Oof. It went on to scrape together a little 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 Crow. After his death, his movies gained more reappraisal. Still, Showdown in Little Tokyo showcased a real promise for both Lee and Lundgren as a buddy cop duo. Their lunkhead charms came from a place of goofy warmth that comes through in the movie.
It makes me wish we could have seen at least one more movie with these two. Lundgren’s character is given more of the focus when it comes to backstory and perspective. A sequel would’ve given Lee a chance to dive into Johnny Murata’s history and how that could strengthen his bond with Kenner. The idea of a series of films with these two cartoon chuckleheads feels like it exists in an alternate universe I desperately want to visit.
Sadly, we only have Showdown in Little Tokyo for this particular onscreen pairing. If you’ve never seen it, let its cheesy goodness melt all over you 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.