The Movie Guys: ‘The Corruptor’ nearly an action-free action flop

Friday, March 12, 1999 | 10:43 a.m.

Synopsis: Nick Chen (Chow Yun-Fat) is one of the New York Police Department's most decorated officers. The first Chinese-born immigrant on the force, Chen has used his close ties with a group of Chinese "businessmen" known as the Triads to rise through the ranks. But a turf war has erupted in Chinatown. The NYPD beefs up the Asian Gang Unit with a new recruit: idealistic cop Danny Wallace (Mark Wahlberg), who is unaware of how power and influence have compromised his superiors.

Jeff: Two action sequences! Two! That's all we get in "The Corruptor," the new buddy-cop film starring Asian action superstar Chow Yun-Fat and "Boogie Nights" star Mark Wahlberg. I use the term "action superstar" loosely, because not only is the plot for "The Corruptor" lifted from "Lethal Weapon 4" (with Kim Chan reprising his role as Uncle Benny, the same actor and villain from "Lethal Weapon 4"), but "Corruptor's" action sequences couldn't stimulate the adrenal glands of a field mouse, when they finally happen.

And the plot -- talk about confusing. Why give Yun-Fat dialogue when you can only understand every other word he says? In "The Replacement Killers" (Yun-Fat's American feature debut last year), he barley said anything, shot up every bad guy around, and let go more rounds than were fired in the entire Korean War. "The Corruptor" is just plain boring. I have more gripes, but allow me to have my partner vent his frustrations first. Dave...

Dave: Why, thank you, Jeffrey. Let's see, where to begin with this celluloid mess? As Jeff pointed out, Yun-Fat is an established martial arts superstar, and co-star Wahlberg is a prime candidate for any adrenaline-fueled action film. He already showed us his potential in last year's hip thriller "The Big Hit."

So, when I go to see a flick with these two names attached, I expect some fast-paced, fist-flying, gun-firing, gratuitous violence slapped with its usual R rating to entertain me for the next two hours. Instead, we get a labored script that follows two corrupt cops who are looking to bring down the Asian godfather in New York's Chinatown. Oh yeah, in the mix is an FBI team applying pressure within the department, and an undercover Internal Affairs agent -- a surprise twist -- who gets involved, too.

Jeff: You would think that New Line Cinema would have learned from its previous hit "Rush Hour" how to handle a buddy-cop film in which the investigation takes them into Chinatown. They struck gold with that film, and here they mined fools' gold.

"The Corruptor" has no comic relief whatsoever. Instead, the expected cop cliches are not carefully woven into the story, but are brought out and displayed as if we were watching a "McBain" action film from "The Simpsons." For example, 20 minutes into the film, Whalberg and Yun-Fat are chewed out by an FBI agent for screwing up a drug bust in which an undercover agent was arrested. "You guys just blew three months of undercover work." My God, are they kidding us? Wahlberg and Yun-Fat's chemistry mixes like chocolate pudding and cat hair. It doesn't work -- ever. Wahlberg whispers every line and seems indifferent to what's going on around him, and Yun-Fat constantly tells him to "get out of Chinatown."

Did we mention the racial slurs toward the Chinese community? The film is loaded with them. Likewise, the Asian cops pick on Wahlberg's affection for Asian women, with comments such as "You want soy sauce with that?" or sexist slurs about Chinese women. Remember that these comments come from their own people. It's out of place and unnecessary.

Dave: The key word here is: "cliche." Unfortunately, this is the only thing director James Foley offers up. The spirited filmmaker definitely has a knack for noir, manipulating the dark themes of his films with the aesthetics of neon light and shadows. One of my favorite directors, he has guided heavy dramas from the star-studded "Glengarry Glen Ross" to the underrated "At Close Range." But in recent years, he has begun to show an interest in grating material such as John Grisham's "The Chamber" (the only film made from his books from which Grisham disassociated himself) and "Fear" (another Wahlberg thriller). His latest feature is guilty of one-dimensional characters and predictable plot twists that lead to the ever popular "cargo ship scene" in the film's third act. Ugh!

Jeff: Dull, boring, unoriginal and with little action, "The Corruptor" does nothing for the action genre except to fail in its attempt to pass off past formulas as its own, without a smidgen of disguise. The car chase is just silly, and even resorts to two cars hitting each other in the front fender, trying to drive each other off the road. Hey, that went out with "Starsky and Hutch."

Blame the writing. Blame the acting. Blame everyone but yourself. Yun-Fat has yet to find a project that can catapult him to stardom in America and showcase him as the international star that his is.

Dave: I have to admit one thing: Since Jeff and I saw "The Corruptor," everyone has been surprised at our opinionated words of wisdom. But I assure you, folks, their reaction was nowhere near our own when the end credits began to roll. Remember, no matter how good a theatrical and/or television trailer promoting a film may look, the final result is not always what it seems.

Movie Buzz

'Where Art' George?: It's been only a couple of weeks since George Clooney left "ER," but the star has signed to make his next movie, "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" for filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen ("Fargo," "The Big Lebowski"). Clooney last starred in Steven Soderbergh's acclaimed "Out of Sight." In the Coens' project, Clooney will play the leader of three escapees from a chain gang in the 1930s. The picture tracks their misadventures in Mississippi and other Southern locales as they try to elude a tracker.

Chan's the man: DreamWorks has bought an untitled pitch to star Jackie Chan. Written by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, the action/comedy is intended to be a franchise in which Chan will star as a bumbling spy. The script, the first of a hoped-for series, will see Chan's character inventing a tuxedo that helps him fight. The project will showcase Chan's comedic side while incorporating the star's martial arts and stunt skills. Break a leg, Jackie!

"Scream" team: Get ready to "Scream" again. Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette are all expected to be on board for "Scream 3." A Dec. 3 release is planned. The third installment features Campbell's beleagured Sidney Prescott making the move to Hollywood to pursue acting.

Name That Flick

"Captain, it is I, Ensign Pulver, and I just threw your stinking palm tree overboard. Now, what's all this crud about no movie tonight?" Congratulations to Sparty Kaufman, who was the first to call and connect the quote to Jack Lemmon in "Mister Roberts." Way to go, Sparty!

Continuing with our countdown to the 71st Academy Awards, tell us what Academy Award-winning actor said this and in what film: "See, you have to understand that when we started out together, that he was only my brother in name. And then, this morning we had pancakes." Does it sound familiar? If you think you know, call The Movie Guys Hotline at 225-9026 or e-mail us at movieguys5@aol.com. Be sure to spell your name and leave your daytime phone number and if you're the first correct caller/e-mailer, we will print your name right here in our column for the entire Las Vegas Valley to read.

Don't forget to pick up this week's edition of Las Vegas Weekly to check out our special issue devoted to the 71st Academy Awards. See you next week!