“The Paper Tigers” is no doubt a film that I was not expecting so much, which turned out to be much more. It’s a film that will no doubt make you laugh but also captivate you through its action and its overall story. Recommended!
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TITLE: The Paper Tigers
FILM RELEASE DATE: 2020
DURATION: 111 Minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Color, 16:9 widescreen, English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Subtitles: English
RATED: PG-13 (For Some Strong Language, Offensive Slurs and Violence)
COMPANY: Well Go USA Entertainment
RELEASED: June 22, 2021
Directed by Quoc Bao Tran
Written by Quoc Bao Tran
Produced by Park Ahyoung
Cinematographer by Son Won-ho
Starring:
Ron Yuan as Hing
Alain Uy as Danny
Mykel Shannon Jenkins as Jim
Matthew Page as Carter
Okumoto Yuji as Wing
Jae Suh Park as Caryn
Peter Adrian Sudarso as Teen Hing
Yoshi Sudarso as Teen Danny
Roger Yuan as Sifu Cheung
Gui DaSilva-Greene as Teen Jim
Ken Quitugua as Zhen Fan
Raymod Ma as Sifu Wong
As teenagers, kung fu disciples Danny (Alain Uy), Hing (Ron Yuan) and Jim (Mykel Shannon Jenkins) were inseparable. Fast forward 25 years, and each has grown into a washed-up middle-aged man seemingly one kick away from pulling a hamstring?and not at all preoccupied with thoughts of martial arts or childhood best friends. But when their old master is murdered, the trio reunites, soon learning that avenging their sifu will require conquering old grudges (and a dangerous hitman still armed with ample knee cartilage) if they are to honorably defend his legacy.
From the Quoc Bao Tran, the director of “Bookie” and his stuntwork for the sci-fi indie film “Prospect”, comes his martial arts action/comedy “The Paper Tigers”.
The film stars Alain Uy (“Helstrom”, “The Morning Show”), Ron Yuan (“Mulan”, “Wu-Tang: An American Saga”, “Marco Polo”), Mykel Shannon Jenkins (“Undisputed 3: Redemption”, “The Gods”), Jae Suh Park (“The Big Short”, “Friends from College”), Matthew Page (“Enter the Dojo”, “Odd Thomas”, “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot”) and Okumoto Yuji (“Karate Kid 2”, “Cobra Kai”).
And now the film will be available on Blu-ray courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment.
“The Paper Tigers” begins showcasing three best friends Danny, Hing and Jim, three kung-fu students of Sifu Cheung (portrayed by Roger Yuan).
While the three are to use their kung-fu for positive things, the three have a knack of getting in trouble and participating in underground fight tournaments.
Through old video we see that Danny is invited to go to Japan to compete in a fighting tournament.
Shifting to the present, we see their Sifu Cheung being attacked and killed.
The story then shows us Danny (portrayed by Danny Uy) who is in his ’40s racing to meet his ex-wife and child in order to ensure he has 50/50 visitation rights. Danny promises his son he will take him to Fantasy Land and they will have father and son time.
Unfortunately, Danny is pulled from work and he is unable to take his son. While he arrives back home, he is attacked by a man, who turns out to be Hing (portrayed by Ron Yuan). Hing is surprised that Danny’s sense of attacks is off and how different they look.
Danny and Hing haven’t seen each other since he left to Japan back in the early ’90s and we also learn that they haven’t seen Jim either. And some bad blood must have happened between Danny and Jim.
Danny stopped practicing martial arts since the ’90s, while Hing has gotten bigger and wears a brace since he fell from a scaffolding accident years ago and walks with a permanent limp.
Hing tells Danny that their Sifu Cheung has passed away due to a heart attack and his funeral is the following day.
Danny agrees to go to the funeral but taking his son back to his ex-wife, but she is livid because he is not following their 50/50 visitation rights that they agreed on.
While at the funeral, Danny comes in contact with his former rival Carter (portrayed by Matthew Page) and his sifu, Sifu Wong (portrayed by Raymond Ma).
Then three delinquents come into the funeral, taking a selfie next to Sifu Cheung’s photo and are rude. The three claim to be students of Sifu Cheung.
Carter later tells them that he doesn’t believe Sifu Cheung died by a heart attack and the three delinquents that came in may know more about the death of their Sifu.
As Danny and Hing go to talk to one of the kids, the boy bolts out and Danny and Hing are unable to run after him because they are out of shape.
Hing convinces Danny that they need to have Jim with him and the two decide to visit Jim, who is now a trainer for mixed martial arts at a gym.
We learn that the three have not spoken to each other since the ’90s and when they went to Japan and Danny was supposed to fight, he end up disappearing without a word, leaving Jim behind. Meanwhile, no one even contacted Hing, who was left to watch over their Sifu and learn acupuncture skills from him.
While the three men have not seen each other in decades and are now older, they must find who killed their Sifu. But can these three older men, who once were best friends and considered each other as brothers, work together to avenge the death of their Sifu?
“The Paper Tigers” is a fascinating martial arts comedy film about three young best friends, like brothers, who used their kung-fu training for the wrong reasons and for some reason, haven’t spoken or seen each other in nearly 30 years.
Danny who was the leader of the group, and defeated many opponents, went to Japan to pursue his career as a tournament fighter but never did and now he is a divorced insurance man, trying to be a father and lives a life of not standing back and not wanting to get into any trouble.
Hing, who stayed back home to be with his Sifu, wonders why none of his two friends ever reached out to him, is back to reunite in hopes to find the killer of their Sifu.
While Jim is a person who has forgotten his martial arts training and is more interested in training people for mixed martial arts competitions.
None of these friends/brothers have contacted one another for a long time, nor have they visited or reached out to their Sifu.
But what happened to them? Why were these three, who were so close, became so distant and not even there for the person who taught them how to fight?
We learn through their journey of their bond but also what broke that bond for many years. But as these three reunite, they must use the skills that they learned long ago, and have not practiced nor are they in the same shape to take on other fighters. Will they be able to find and fight against the person who killed their Sifu?
The film also shows the struggle of Danny as a father, who wants to be there for his son but work circumstances prevents him from being there for him and despite his son being bullied, Danny tries to not have his son fight back and run away. Meanwhile, dealing with his angry ex-wife who is tired of his lies and him not abiding to their 50/50 custodial agreement.
While an action film, the film is also pure comedy courtesy of their rival, Carter (portrayed by Matthew Page), a martial arts trainer who acts like he is from China and he and the three are often at each other’s throats. Carter making fun of the three because they can’t fight anymore.
The martial arts film also also features Roger Yuan (“Mulan”, “Shanghai Noon”, “Skyfall”, “Bulletproof Monk”) plays the role as the strict Sifu Cheung.
The film features cameos by Okumoto Yuji as the waiter Wing. Okumoto is best known for his role as the antagonist Chozen from “The Karate Kid II”.
The film also features the Sudarso brothers. Yoshi Sudarso (“Power Rangers Dino Charge”) as young Danny and Peter Adrian Sudarso (“Power Rangers Ninja Steel) as young Hing.
As for the Blu-ray release, picture quality is very good with close-up details quite evident, while the lossless soundtrack is also good with crowds being heard through the surround channels and dialogue and music being crystal clear through the center and front channels.
As for special features, the film features behind-the-scenes, deleted scenes, bloopers and a trailer.
“The Paper Tigers” is no doubt a film that I was not expecting so much, which turned out to be much more. It’s a film that will no doubt make you laugh but also captivate you through its action and its overall story.
“The Paper Tigers” is recommended!
PURCHASE THIS BLU-RAY ON AMAZON