Film Review: Rapid Fire

About Rapid Fire (1992)Art student and martial arts expert Jake Lo (Brandon Lee) witnesses a gangland execution and is subsequently placed in federal custody for his own protection. However, Jake soon realises that the Feds are corrupt and the only man he can count on is tough Chicago cop Mace Ryan (Powers Boothe). Together Mace and Jake decide it is time to make the gangsters pay and set about bringing their drug trafficking empire to its knees.

Starring: Brandon Lee, Powers Boothe, Nick Mancuso, Raymond J. Barry, Kate Hodge

Directed by: Dwight H. Little

Runtime: 91 minutes

Studio: Lions Gate

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Review: Rapid Fire

Bruce and Brandon Lee are two of the tragedies from film history. The martial arts legend Bruce died in his early thirties just as he was about to take the world by storm with Enter the Dragon (1973). Twenty years later his son, Brandon, was tragically killed on the set of The Crow (1994), a film that was well received and may have propelled him forward for years to come. Sadly, we’ll never know just how great father and son could have been. Back in 1992, Brandon released Rapid Fire, a vehicle for his martial arts talents, inspired by the style of his father, but is this up there with Enter the Dragon?

The film begins in Thailand where mafia drug baron Antonio Serrano (Nick Mancuso) is eager to work with Kinman Tau (Tzi Ma), a lucrative drug king. Antonio leaves empty-handed, Tau unimpressed and unwilling to work with him. We then switch focus to Jake Lo (Brandon Lee), an art student in Los Angeles who is haunted by the death of his father at Tiananmen Square in China during a protest for democracy. Lured to a party, Jake witnesses Antonio Serrano murdering Carl Chang (Michael Paul Chan) who has ties with Tau and suddenly his life is in danger. He is taken into protective custody to testify against Serrano but there are plenty of people willing to silence him!

After an introduction to the two bad guys in the film, we quickly switch our attention to Jake who was once passionate about politics but having seen his father die in a protest he has lost himself in the world of art. Lured to a Chinese democracy activist gathering, Jake witnesses Serrano’s murder of Chang and all of a sudden the building is a mass of bullets and devastation. Jake is quickly taken into protective custody but Serrano has men on the inside that can get to Jake. Luckily, Jake is something of a martial artist and though his life is constantly in danger, he has some nifty tricks up his sleeve and soon begins taking out the henchmen of both Serrano and Tau.

Jake isn’t a lone crusader in his efforts of course. Inevitably, this martial arts genius finds support from two cops Mace Ryan (Powers Boothe) and Karla Withers (Kate Hodge). Ryan is the tough-talking type while Karla, initially disgruntled with Jake, soon finds those muscles very distracting! The trio spend their time avoiding death and looking to bring Serrano to justice and then move their efforts onto Tau. With Jake being a prime target, it’s inevitable that he is used as a pawn to capture Serrano and when the moment arrives it’s a violent exchange but you’ll never feel like this art student is in any real danger.

Rapid Fire is a very average action/thriller. Lee is wonderful to watch when he’s performing martial arts his father would have been proud of but acting wise he is okay rather than great as he was in The Crow. While the story involving Serrano and Tau is intriguing and has a surprise or two, it doesn’t make up for the rest of the film which is predictable to be honest. Karla is there for a bit of romance with Jake while Mace inevitably slots into the temporary father role to compensate Jake for the father who was tragically killed.

Rapid Fire is an average effort showcasing Lee’s physical talents in a film he did many of the stunts and fight scenes. He’s not as brilliant to watch as his legendary father but this is very much a springboard for what was to come. However, if you want to see the best of Brandon Lee then head for The Crow.

Verdict: 3/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Rapid Fire | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave