What to Watch This Weekend: The Suicide Squad, Nine Days, Vivo, The Paper Tigers, 6:45, Monuments, Finding Kendrick Johnson, Rurouni Kenshin

For The Best Comic Book Movie In A While: The Suicide Squad (Theaters and HBO Max)

The Suicide Squad is a wildly violent, colorful, and entertaining explosion of insanity from start to finish, with a phenomenal cast that collectively make it the best DC movie ever.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Musical Adventure For The Kiddos: Vivo (Netflix)
Vivo brings is a ton of Latin flavor, Lin-Manuel Miranda's infectious music, and a bright, beautiful, and well animated adventure.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Exquisite Appreciation of Life: Nine Days (Theaters)

Nine Days is an exquisite film, with a strange but beautiful premise, wonderful music, and amazing, personable performances by this cast.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Action And Anime Fans: Rurouni Kenshin (Netflix)

It's a live action Kenshin movie and it's actually good!  Both films are available on Netflix and although I think that the second one (The Beginning) is better, they are both great examples of live action anime.  For more information, check out the review! 

For A Unique Martial Arts Film: The Paper Tigers (Netflix)

One of my favorite films of the year is coming to Netflix on August 7! The Paper Tigers will knock you out with its wonderful comedic style, over the top and over the hill characters, and the amazing camaraderie and heart of the main trio.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Quirky And Emotional Odyssey: Monuments (Digital)
Monuments has a quirky style and classic feel, with a mix of humor, over the top characters, and a wild west influence that will keep you entertained.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Time Looping Emotional Ride: 6:45 (Theaters and Digital)

6:45 is a well done indie horror film, with a groundhog day style and plenty of dread in this live, die, repeat type film.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Emotional Documentary: Finding Kendrick Johnson (Digital)

Finding Kendrick Johnson is a horrifying and heartfelt documentary about a family's Sisyphean effort to find justice for their son in a bizarre case and botched investigation.  For more information, check out the review!

What to Watch This Weekend: I Carry You With Me, Long Story Short, Tomorrow War, Audible, Summer of Soul, Zola, Paper Tigers, Holy Game

For A Beautiful Immigrant Drama: I Carry You With Me (Theaters)
I Carry You With Me is a slow moving but beautiful portrait of hard work, dedication, and love that shows the pain of discrimination and the power of dreams.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Powerful Musical Documentary: Summer of Soul (Theaters and Hulu)

Summer of Soul revives a powerful and empowering cultural moment with great music, beautiful footage, and insightful commentary.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Coming of Age Sports Documentary: Audible (Netflix)

Audible's smart use of sound and storytelling highlight some wonderful young men and women and the greater deaf community through a football lens.    For more information, check out the review! 

For A Hilarious and Emotional Rom Com: Long Story Short (Theaters and Digital)

Long Story Short is a wonderful film, telling a heartfelt, compact, and emotional story with plenty of tears and laughs fueled by Spall's brilliant performance.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Time-Traveling Summer Action Flick: The Tomorrow War (Amazon)

The Tomorrow War has the cast, explosive effects, and exciting story that tugs at your heartstrings; it is an entertaining future summer action movie that you can enjoy today!  For more information, check out the review!

For A Unique Spiritual Soccer Tournament: The Holy Game (Digital)
The Holy Game is an interesting look at a devout tournament that highlights the unique players and rules of this game and serves to demystify and humanize the priesthood through soccer.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Bizarre, Hilarious Odyssey: Zola (Theaters)

Zola is something that has to be experienced to truly understand, and the combination of bizarre characters, amazing style, and some intense performances make this film something to like and retweet.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Unique Martial Arts Film: The Paper Tigers (Redbox)

One of my favorite films of the year is now available to rent at Redbox! The Paper Tigers will knock you out with its wonderful comedic style, over the top and over the hill characters, and the amazing camaraderie and heart of the main trio.  For more information, check out the review!

The Paper Tigers Interview: Bao Tran (Director) Ken Quitugua (Choreographer) Al’n Duong (Producer)

Bao Tran (Writer and Director), Ken Quitugua (Action Choreographer and Star), and Al’n Duong (Producer) discuss making this film, the inspiration, and what it as like to choreograph this unique martial arts movie. We also discuss how the great home movies in the film were made and who would win in a fight between them! So give it a watch and make sure to check out The Paper Tigers on demand now, or on DVD and Blu-Ray on June 22, 2021! Written and Directed by: Tran Quoc Bao Starring: Alain Uy (True Detective), Ron Yuan (Mulan), Mykel Shannon Jenkins (Undisputed III), Matthew Page ("Enter the Dojo" - Master Ken), Andy Le (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Yuji Okumoto ("Cobra Kai" & Karate Kid II) Synopsis: 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.

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What to Watch This Weekend: Wrath of Man, Paper Tigers, Columnist, Water man, Judas and the Black Messiah, Human Factor, Initiation, Sons of Sam

For A Darker Guy Ritchie Experience: Wrath of Man (In Theaters)
Wrath of Man has Ritchie's trademark sharp writing, style, and a solid Statham performance, but with a darker tone and more intense action.  For more information, check out the review!

For The True Crime Fans: The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness (Netflix)

The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness details a fascinating theory and the brilliant but flawed proponent of it with amazing clippings, clips, and plenty of research.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Bloody Good Free Speech Satire: The Columnist (Virtual Cinema)

The Columnist is a stylish and entertaining satire--fueled by Katja Herbers's wonderful performance--about the dangers of social media and the very painful effect that online activities can have on real people.    For more information, check out the review! 

For A Crazy, Murderous Horror Party: Initiation (Theaters and Digital)

Initiation's college slasher party is amplified with great practical effects, brutal deaths, a good amount of tension, and a social media message.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Fascinating Historical Documentary: The Human Factor (In Theaters)

The Human Factor is a fascinating look at peace in the middle east, with great narration, clever effects to keep the viewer engaged, and a humbling look at just how complicated this issue really is.   For more information, check out the review!

For A Family Film Dealing With Real Issues: The Water Man (In Theaters)
Nomadland highlights a different, beautiful lifestyle with a very human performance by McDormand, amazing cinematography, and a wonderful sense of community.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Thoroughly Entertaining Martial Arts Film: The Paper Tigers (In Theaters and Digital)

Paper Tigers will knock you out with its wonderful comedic style, over the top and over the hill characters, and the amazing camaraderie and heart of the main trio.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Powerful Film About Racial Injustice: Judas and the Black Messiah (Redbox)

Judas and the Black Messiah is an amazing, powerful film that chronicles the short life of a charismatic leader, and highlights ideals and injustices that are still relevant today.  For more information, check out the review!

The Paper Tigers Cast Interview: Alain Uy, Ron Yuan, and Mykel Shannon Jenkins!

 

Alain Uy, Ron Yuan, and Mykel Shannon Jenkins, the stars of the Paper Tigers, discuss the film, how they prepared for this role, and what it was like filming this Martial Arts comedy! We also settle once and for all who would win in a fight between them! So give it a watch and make sure to check out The Paper Tigers in theaters and on demand on May 7, 2021! Written and Directed by: Tran Quoc Bao Starring: Alain Uy (True Detective), Ron Yuan (Mulan), Mykel Shannon Jenkins (Undisputed III), Matthew Page ("Enter the Dojo" - Master Ken), Andy Le (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Yuji Okumoto ("Cobra Kai" & Karate Kid II) Synopsis: 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.

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The Paper Tigers Review: A Middle Age Martial Arts Comedy Knock Out

Release date: May 7, 2021
Running time: 108 minutes
Written and Directed by: Tran Quoc Bao
Starring: Alain Uy (True Detective), Ron Yuan (Mulan), Mykel Shannon Jenkins (Undisputed III), Matthew Page ("Enter the Dojo" - Master Ken), Andy Le (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Yuji Okumoto ("Cobra Kai" & Karate Kid II)

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.

The Paper Tigers starts off perfectly, with VHS home movies that are filled with character and 80s style.  The trio are shown in their martial arts prime, with the confidence and invincibility of youth.  It really gives you a vision of this trio and their tight bond growing up.  The VHS videos set the tone perfectly, as does the amazing 80s music that gets your blood flowing.  And then when it fast forwards to them not in their prime, the film shows its comedic roots.  Boisterous youths go to middle aged adults just over the hill.  And the concerns they have, especially those of Danny who is juggling a job, a kid, and a crumbling marriage, feel like those of any normal adult.  It is illuminating to see the person that he became versus the person he thought he would be.

But what The Paper Tigers has in spades is comedy and heart.  The movie is just funny.  The camaraderie between the trio in their youth and as adults is palatable and shows on screen.  The disciples have built up anger, love, and a shared knowledge that is instantly infectious.  And the over the top style has some call backs to old school martial arts movies, but with an added dry comedic style.  The movie riffs on fighting, on grudges, and on age equally well, making a melting pot of comedic gold.  And despite these character's ages, the kung fu action is exciting and enjoyable.  They are definitely not in their prime, but they still are fun to see when they let loose.

The story of this movie is long, but I didn't mind it at all.  There are a few fight scenes that seem a little drawn out, but it's a martial arts comedy movie so I can't begrudge the film for lingering on martial arts action.  And some of the fights use stylish cuts to slow down the action, which lets you get in the heads of the fighters but also makes for some action that is less frantic than I was hoping.  And a minor point, but the young characters in the VHS videos look nothing like their older counterparts, including some of their height.  But The Paper Tigers has a unique tone, great characters, and more heart than your average martial arts movie.  And it occupies a unique space that skirts the line between following your dreams and the realities of life.  

Paper Tigers will knock you out with its wonderful comedic style, over the top and over the hill characters, and the amazing camaraderie and heart of the main trio.

Watch it.

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The Paper Tigers will be released in theaters and on demand on May 7, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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