Awesome Asian Bad Guys
The concept behind Awesome Asian Bad Guys may not be new, especially in this post Expendables world, but it seems full of possibility. Gather together some of the famous Asian movie henchmen from the 80’s and 90’s, like the unmistakable Al Leong, Yuji Okumoto (the bad guy from Karate Kid 2) and George Chung, and make a film based on new exploits of the actors. Originally conceived as a web series, the film feels as disjointed and incoherent. The small chunks it was meant to play out in are painfully obvious.
Veteran actress Tamilyn Tomita searches out directors Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino after hearing they want to gather together the Awesome Asian Bad Guys from their Kickstarter campaign (yes, this is part of the script). It seems her sister Pamilyn has been killed by local baddie Aaron Takahasi and his henchman Dante “Ruffio” Basco (yes, THAT Ruffio). The Awesome Asian Bad Guys must band together to save the day.
This is a poor 80’s TV sitcom brought to life with a YouTube sensibility where every character is playing a version of themselves. Furthermore, it’s also a vanity project with the film being less about the AABG’s as it is the directors who have inserted themselves as the main characters of the film. The result is only sporadically funny and never fully engaging. The film is saved, though, by the genuine charm and charisma of Leong, Tomita and Okumoto and the pure joy of watching Basco have so much fun. (Kirk Haviland)
Screens
Friday, November 7th, 7:00pm, Royal Cinema
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