The Movie: The Paper Tigers
The Director: Bao Tran
The Cast: Joziah Lagonoy, Matthew Page, Jae Suh Park, Mykel Shannon Jenkins,
Alain Uy, Ron Yuan, Ken Quitugua
The Story: Three Kung Fu prodigies have grown into washed-up, middle-aged men,
now one kick away from pulling their hamstrings. But when their master is
murdered, they must juggle their dead-end jobs, dad duties, and old grudges to
avenge his death.
The Interview:
The Review:
Okay, so this movie was basically everything I was hoping it would be although
why did director Bao Tran have to speak to me so truthfully about what ti
feels like to get older. Seriously, it was a lot of fun to watch the
characters at first in their prime physical shape as young men and then as
creaking, road weary adults who have not done nearly enough to maintain any
sort of physical status. I was right there with them each time they pulled a
muscle or needed to lay down to take a rest and of course totally on board
with the humanity each of them displayed as well.
I feel like that aspect should be credited equally to Tran's direction and
writing skills and to the abilities of the three actors who play the aging
Tigers Alain Uy, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, and Ron Yuan. The movie is a
comedy and it's also very much grounded in a reality that is easy to
understand and the performances go a long way to selling this aspect of the
movie. The comedy wouldn't work nearly as well if you didn't relate to the
guys so much, especially Danny who is also dealing with career, relationship,
and parenting issues along with trying to regain any semblance of his former
martial arts glory days.
One of my favorite things about the movie is how Seattle it is. The locations,
the music, the views, the buildings. All of it is iconic to anyone who has
lived here for any length of time and especially when we get to see so much of
the Chinatown-International District represented in the movie. Pick your
favorite restaurant and you'll probably see their sign and there are multiple
views of the streets and the famous Chinatown temple gate that lets everyone
know they are in an historic and honored neighborhood.
I mentioned music and I have to say, hearing Kid Sensation's "Back to Boom" at
the very beginning of the movie had me 100% sold on just how good and
authentically Seattle it was going to be. If you don't know who Kid Sensation
is just think back to Sir Mix A Lot's Posse on Broadway and a dropped twenty
dollar bill. That might bring back a few memories. For me, Back to Boom was a
song one a cassette maxi single that I played over and over and over and I was
till singing along to the words as soon as I heard them in the movie. Long
time Seattle residents get what this song means having it kick off the
movie.
The most noticeable thing about this movie is that it just feels good all the
way through. The story has elements that will remind you of classic martial
arts films, it is genuinely funny mostly because it's so self aware, and it is
also filled with hope and possibility. The movie has a lot of heart and a few
lessons to be told and all of it is handled in such a likable and entertaining
way. Maybe I'm a bit biased because I live in Seattle and the movie's soul is
in Seattle but I'd also like to think that anyone would enjoy this movie no
matter where they are from.
The Verdict:
The Paper Tigers is cinematic comfort food that hits all the right
spots. It's dim sum at Purple Dot and then a walk through Hing Hay Park on a
Sunday afternoon. It's dinner at Kona Kitchen with a group of friends
reminiscing about the younger days. It's boom boxes, and break dancing at
Golden Gardens until the sun goes down. It's like good memories and hope for
the future because, no matter what life throws at us, we're going to be okay.
TwoOhSix.com Podcast Interview with Director Bao Tran
The Paper Tigers is an official selection of the 2020
Fantasia International Film Festival.
To see more reviews, interviews, and festival coverage please go to:
TwoOhSix at Fantasia 2020
Check out the TwoOhSix.com Podcast!
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