Rapid Fire

Dwight H. Little – 1992 – USA 

Jake Lo (Brandon Lee) is a Chinese-American college student who takes art classes and just happens to know martial arts plenty good too.  And like all movie characters named ‘Jake,’ he has a leather jacket and rides a motorcycle.  His dad was killed at Tiananmen Square and so now he hates political activism, until accidentally witnessing a mob hit forces him to take action.  Rapid Fire is cut from exactly the same pattern as most martial arts movies of the day, and though made in ’92 is still very 80s in a really cheesy kind of way; right down to its generic, meaningless title, cornball acting, requisite clichés, and the ridiculous hair-band style rock tunes on the soundtrack.  Only Powers Boothe occasionally threatens to lend an air of distinction, but for the most part unknowns in major parts and reliable character actors in supporting parts – like Nick Mancuso as the crime boss – all tend to chew the scenery without restraint, leading to lots of pretty fun unintentional humor.  Aside from being one of the few films in which the late Brandon Lee starred, it is also enjoyable – like many of the action films of its era – by being so direct and unpretentious; all-around good will often compensating for a dearth of artistry and originality.