Welcome to America. A middle-aged Japanese couple
and their grown daughter come to the USA for a holiday and to visit an American
friend. First, driving cross-country they are carjacked in the desert in
the middle of nowhere. Still they make it to Boston where the father goes
to see his friend who is a police chief. They once worked on a case together
in Japan. The mother and daughter go sightseeing and unknowingly take a photo
of a drug deal with one of the people being the right hand man of a powerful
city official. To get the camera they kill the mother and kidnap the daughter.
Just another day on the streets of America. The cops look into it but there
isn't much to go on. The father though isn't satisfied. He wants his daughter
back and you might think good luck. Except he is the great Bunta Sugawara
and that man doesn't stand down. The daughter is played by Sakura Sugawara
- her only credit - not sure if she is related to Bunta or not.
Three old grumpy warhorses in this one.
Bunta, George Kennedy as the police chief and David Carradine as that powerful
city official. That is a lot of old beat up masculinity and a lot of movies
between the three of them. And they look it. No spring chickens here. Kennedy
with his ample stomach wants to help his friend but he is six months away
from his pension and his dream boat and doesn't want to blow it. But he gives
Bunta one clue and that is enough to send Bunta on a path of death and vengeance.
Carradine only has a few scenes but it gives him the opportunity to have
a naked woman crawl over him and to have one nutty monologue about loving
cocaine. The last thirty minutes is a hoot and a half. Not necessarily in
a good way. Bunta must chase this guy in this byzantine winding factory for
20 of it. I was worried he would have a heart attack. Nice just to see these
three for 90 minutes and to have Bunta act in English.
This was a co-production between Toei Video
and an American company. Clearly meant for the bargain bin video stores.
Except for the nudity this has 1990's TV movie all over it. Bunta must have
been thinking hey its a paycheck but I sure would love to make one more great
Yakuza film. Directed by Tôru Murakawa who followed this one up with
another co-production with Toei titled New York Cop staring Mira Sorvino,
Chad McQueen and Tôru Nakamura.
