Sometimes you watch a film where you can really feel the passion and the drive of the filmmakers in wanting to get a project made. The Paper Tigers is one of those pictures. It’s a passion project from debut writer/director, Tran Quoc Bao – also goes by Bao Tran, who spent nine years developing the film before eventually financing it through Kickstarter. The picture is filled with small details and moments where you can tell Bao Tran is drawing from real experiences and observations. While I have not learned any kung fu, I did take several years of Taekwondo during my youth, and there’s a distinct energy and cast of characters you often find in strip mall dojos that The Paper Tigers really relishes in.
The story itself revolves around three friends – Danny (Alain Uy), Hing (Ron Yuan) and Jim (Mykel Shannon Jenkins). During their years growing up, they were the disciples of kung fu master Sifu Cheung (Roger Yuan), and were inseparable. But a falling out led to them going their own ways. Fast forward 25 years, they are all way past their prime, and haven’t been in touch with either Sifu Cheung or his teachings. But fate brings them together when Sifu Cheung is murdered. The “three tigers” as they were once referred as, agree to put aside their differences, and find out who is responsible for the death of their master.
Despite that setup, the film is more of a comedy than a full on revenge film. In fact, the one big flaw that I would point out is that the stakes don’t quite feel real until we reach well into the third act. However, it’s a film that is about more than avenging the death of a father figure. It explores the ways these guys have lost touch with not only each other, but the philosophy of kung fu that Sifu Cheung worked so hard for them to understand. We take a particular focus on Danny, who is the classic overworking father, who has a strained relationship with his ex-wife, Caryn (Jae Suh Park) and his son, Ed (Joziah Lagonoy), who he has 50/50 custody of.
A lot of the gags revolve around the fact that these guys just aren’t what they used to be in terms of athletics, their bodies just aren’t made for fighting anymore. Hing himself walks with a limp, and amusingly enough, is the guy between all of them who knows how to apply pressure points, which comes in handy a few times throughout the film. Under less delicate hands, the jokes could easily come off as hackneyed, but Bao Tran has a way of bringing these characters to life in a way that really rings true, even with more overtly silly characters like the former rival who now runs a dojo, Carter (Matthew Page), and somehow thinks himself more Chinese than our two Chinese protagonists. The banter that often occurs is great, and the lines and delivery are very sharp.
The action is also something worth noting, which shouldn’t be that surprising. Ken Quitugua is credited as the main action director and stunt coordinator, and while he doesn’t have a ton of credits to his name, the work put in here from him and his team is fantastic. It does a great job of selling the weariness of our leads, and the sloppiness that comes in their attempts at sparring with folks who are either way younger than them or have continued training long after Danny or Hing have quit. It’s fast, at times quite visceral, and it’s expressed and shot in a way that is very clear, and always rooted in character. It also helps that our trio are clearly capable of performing these moves and hits in a way that is very believable.
Speaking of, Alain Uy, Ron Yuan, and Mykel Shannon Jenkins are all terrific. They feel like friends reunited, and the chemistry reflects that. I really enjoyed seeing them together, bickering, bonding, and even hassling one another. A film like this relies on you buying into their relationship, and thankfully, it works like aces. These guys are actors who I am not immediately familiar with, since they have for the most part been featured on TV or in smaller, supporting roles in films (I know Ron Yuan was featured in the most recent Mulan). Each one of them could easily carry a feature because they showcase a lot of likability and charisma, not just in being able to show a strong grasp on action choreography, but also in the lighter, more interpersonal moments.
If it doesn’t seem clear enough, I really like The Paper Tigers. It’s a light film, sure, but it is thoroughly charming and endearing. It clearly comes from a place of love for kung fu movies, and the experiences of practicing martial arts with your friends. Bao Tran smartly infuses the philosophy of kung fu within the narrative, bringing these characters together, and rejuvenating their love and appreciation for the form as taught by their master, and actually following through on those teachings in their everyday lives. The filmmakers were able to take these ideas, and explore them in a way that is simple, accessible, and a ton of fun. There is a lot to love here, especially if you’re a fan of action and martial arts movies. Bao Tran has crafted one hell of a directorial debut, and I’m happy that the years he dedicated getting this together has paid off. This is a film that I can see myself revisiting over and over again, especially if I need a pick-me-up.
The Paper Tigers will open in select theaters and VOD platforms on May 7th.