This Jet Li Hong Kong crime/thriller was originally released in 1995 as MY FATHER IS A HERO (GEI BA BA DE XIN). For years the Hong Kong public watched Jet Li’s performances as virtuous Shaolin monks or fighters with a high morale fiber. You can imagine their surprise when they first watched this film to witnesses their hero hanging with back alley scumbags, selling illegal contraband, and beating up children. The audience accepted this of course, because he was an undercover cop, but it is interesting to see how the filmmakers exploited this. The film is also distinguishable by being a balls-out action film with a large amount of drama. After 5 years, MY FATHER IS A HERO was finally released on Region 1 DVD (in an English version, which we will address later) as JET LI’S THE ENFORCER by Disney’s Dimension label, as part of their growing Hong Kong DVD line.

JET LI’s THE ENFORCER features some fine talents onscreen and behind the camera. It was directed by Corey Yuen, who also directed Jet Li in FONG SAI YUK, BODYGUARD FROM BEJING, HIGH RISK, and others. Jet Li plays Kung Wei, an undercover specialist. Tse (NEW LEGEND OF SHAOLIN) Miu plays Jet Li’s martial artist son, Johhny. Anita (RUMBLE IN THE BRONX) Mui is Hong Kong police investigator Fong. The lead villain Bo is played by Yo Rong (IRON MONKEY) Guang.

Kung Wei is an undercover agent for the police. He is a master at controlling his emotions and getting himself involved in the Triads, to break up these gangs from within. His superiors have tremendous faith in his chameleon-like ability and martial arts prowess. Because of the sensitivity of his profession, secrecy is vital. Kung Wei is not allowed to inform his wife or son of his profession; so they just assume he is a travelling businessman when he is gone for long periods of time. His son Johnny is also a junior kung fu champion, thanks to his father teaching him the martial arts and controlled breathing. Sadly, Johhny’s mother (Bonnie Fu Yuk Jing) suffers from a malady that has her sick nearly all the time.

While walking in the streets with his family one day, Kung Wei is abducted by the police right in front of his astounded family. He is thrown in jail on some bogus charge, but it is all a setup by his superiors. They put him in a cell with a Triad member, and arrange for him to escape, taking the triad member with him, and gaining his trust. The Triad member introduces Kung Wei to the villainous leader Bo (Yo Rong Guang). Bo (a psychotic martial-artist Triad member) is impressed that Kung Wei broke his man out of jail, so her offers Kung Wei a job. He wants Kung Wei to sit in an a weapons exchange with a crooked arms dealer.

Gangland leader Bo discovers that Johnny is the son of Kung Wei. He orders his thugs to kidnap the little boy. When Kung Wei returns, Bo introduces him to his hostage, Johnny, and expects to see him rescue his son. Instead, Kung Wei beats the boy into unconsciousness. Finally, Bo believes that Kung Wei is as cold a bastard as Bo is. They throw Johnny’s body into an alley and take off to party. Later on after he loses his underworld associates, Kung Wei returns to rescue his son. However, Bo and his goons have laid a trap for Kung Wei. Now, Kung Wei and his son must unite their martial arts skills if they are to survive.

JET LI’s THE ENFORCER is a rare genre film. Instead of all out action vehicle from the get go, the movie concentrates on building up the plot and drama. Though there is continual action throughout the film, the slam-bang action is saved for the last half. This allows Li, Anita Mui, and Tze Miu to actually perform some real acting. Though this isn’t Jet’s best film, it does allow him his best acting opportunities yet; including the scenes where he is undercover as a thug. Let’s not forget about Anita Mui; she acts like she doesn’t know that Wei is a cop to ensure that his cover isn’t blown in front of the other ploice officers. Mui also gets to kick butt like Michelle Yeoh.

The undercover aspect of the story allows for plenty of taut suspense. Bo is constantly testing Kung Wei’s loyalty and reliability. There are several scenes where you think the jig is up, but the script strings these elements along as long as possible. There is one scene where Kung Wei must prove his loyalty to Bo by beating up his own son. This is a very highly disturbing scene, and shows Jet Li in an unfavorable light, though it allows him to stretch a bit. After his son collapses, Bo replies "You’re a cold son of a bitch."

There is also a cool subtext about father-son relationships, something that is very rare in all of filmdom. Jet Li and Tze Miu have a pretty good chemistry that translates perfectly to the screen. Being a father myself, I really appreciated those segments. In the beginning we see Jet Li training his son Johnny in the martial arts and in breath control. These elements come into play later on of course. In the climactic confrontation, Jet Li and little Tze team up to fight the villain and his henchmen (Yu Rong Guang, Ngai Sing, and Ken Lo). What I don’t agree with about this showdown, is the fact that Jet Li ties a rope around his son, and uses him as a weapon to take down the guys (think nunchuks). Not only is this poor parenting, but the scene is so unreal that it is laughable.

There is some notable moments here by Tze Miu as Johnny. He steals the show as this dead pan little kid who can kick as high as Jet Li. The scene where Bo tries get Johnny to recognize his undercover father is also memorable. Johnny is taunted by his classmates for having a criminal father and he responds by systematically taking them out. To rub salt in the wound, the kid throws live ants at his oppressors.

There are also some ridiculous aspects of the film as well. Besides being good at martial arts, the villains are one dimensional. The crime lord Bo resembles a Chinese Vanilla Ice, and constantly wears sunglasses. Even when he is getting his but kicked by Li and flipping 30 feet in the air, his hair is unruffled and his glasses never budge. In another scene, Inspector Fong and Johnny defeat 7 or 8 bad guys without any weapons. Anita Mui shoots a truck driver as the truck speeds towards her; and she leaps through the broken glass window while the truck is moving, and takes control of it! Sometimes Hong Kong filmmakers are as stupid as their American counterparts.

- Tony Mustafa

This DVD Available from HKFLIX.COM

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