WEEKEND IN TAIPEI

France/Taiwan, 2024, 100 minutes, Colour.

Luke Evans, Sung Kang, Lun-Mei Gwei, Wyatt Yang..

Directed by George Huang.

An action weekend in Taipei, enabling the audience to spend some time in Taiwan.

This is familiar action and romance material. And, for many audiences, when they want easy action/romance entertainment, they know what is to be expected and that is what they want. While many commentators and reviewers want originality and films to break new ground, the popular audience does not necessarily want this at all. They are satisfied to see what they expected with some pleasant variations.

Which is very much the case here. The initial focus is on wealthy Taiwanese businessmen, Kwang, court cases, declaring innocence, involved in drug dealing, especially to the US. Then there is his wife, Joey – and audiences will enjoy the introduction to her, the actress and style, hair, Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, looking into the store window, and, in the background, Moon River! Then she drives a car at breakneck speed through Taipei, buys it for her gangster husband’s birthday. And the revelation that she has a 13-year-old son Raymond,, who is hostile to his stepfather, critical of his killing of dolphins in his fishing business, destroying the environment.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, DEA agent Lawler is undercover with an associate, working in a Chinese restaurant, becomes involved in a huge fight, not martial arts, it is punching and kicking amazing how much damage can be done with a wok. And, in the background, Johnny Cash singing Ring of Fire.

Obviously everything has to come together, a mention of 15 years by several parties, the audience putting two and two together, Lawler on his way, despite orders against it, to Taipei to confront Kwang. This might have been over happily with fights and guns early in the film, there is an escape, some romantic time spent in the country village, Lawler discovering his paternity, Raymond discovering his father and learning a great deal about his mother’s past life.

Then, into action again, speed driving, Lawler Kwang fighting in a cinema in front of the screen, and, reminiscent for film buffs of the Japanese couple enjoying the wild ride through San Francisco in Foul Play, an old couple watching, thinking it was all part of the film, 3-D!

Sung Kang, Korean-American, has appeared in many at the American productions including several of the Fast and Furious franchise. Lun-Mei Gwei is a star of  cinem Taiwanesea. Luke Evans takes on the kind of role made popular by Liam Neeson and other older actors.

Final credits indicate just what a family show it has been!

1. The action show? US story? Taiwan story? Drugs and the DEA?
2. The Taipei settings, the immersion in this city, the world of business and luxury, the shops, the world of drug dealing and thugs, life in the country village? The contrast with the USA, Minneapolis, restaurant, DEA action? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Kwang, bodyguard, wealthy, court case, assurances of innocence, anger in the car, mansion, the relationship with his wife, Raymond and his antipathy?
4. Minneapolis, John Lawler, the violence, the police, undercover, the restaurant, the detailed fight and action, Santiago and the injuries, the detective, the finding of the drugs? Lawler to go on a weekend vacation? His decision to go to Taipei? 15 years since he was there?
5. Introduction to Joey, immediate impression, the Audrey Hepburn look, the store window, the playing of Moon River, an arrogant manner, the car deal, the reckless drive, buying the car for her husband? The tension between them, her relationship with her son, the son’s hostility to Kwang, his helping her 15 years earlier?
6. Lawler, to Taipei, linking up with the agents, the weapons, the plan to get the register, the information, from Raymond? Waiting in the hotel, Joey and Raymond coming to the hotel, the thugs, the fights in shooting, the agents killed, the escape down the stairs, Joey and her speed driving, going to the village?
7. In the village, her grandmother, her old vehicle, the relationship between Joey and Lawler, Raymond and his puzzle, the eventual revelation, Joey in the past, mechanic, driving, the death of Kwang’s driver, the village holding the drugs, quaint employing her? In action with him, the driving? And giving birth to Raymond? Kwang and his love for her, trying to be a father for Raymond?
8. Raymond, 13, contact with Lawler, the register? Discovery that his family, his mother’s early life, his father? The flashbacks to the relationships, the memories of the various kisses? Jelly to be arrested, Lawler stalling and letting her go? Loss of contact?
9. Raymond, his motivation, the dolphins?
10. Kwang, the pursuit, his thugs, Raymond coming to get the hard drive, caught in the office, the deal with Lawler, the exchange? Kwang not keeping his bargain, Lawler and his pursuit, the confrontation, the cinema, in front of the screen the action, the old couple thinking it was real, the fight and Lawler winning? Kwang and his arrest?
11. Lawler in jail, the police, the detective from Minneapolis on bail, the passport, to Paris, happy ever after, the pregnancy, the new baby and family during the final credits?