Wasabi (2001) User Reviews

Great and Very Funny Adventure

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 14 May 2005]

In France, Hubert Fiorentini (Jean Reno) is a tough, violent, but very effective detective, who has been missing the great love of his life, a Japanese woman, for nineteen years. While capturing a criminal drag-queen, Hubert hurts the son of his chief and is "licenceed" for a couple of months. Meanwhile, he is called from Tokyo by the lawyer of his former girlfriend, who died and left of her possessions to him. When he arrives in Tokyo, he meets his former partner Momo (Michel Muller) and is informed by the lawyer about his inheritance: 200 millions of Euros and a teenager daughter, Yumi Yoshimido (Ryoko Hirosue). Sooner he realizes that the Yakuza is chasing him, looking for the huge amount of money. "Wasabi" is a great and very funny adventure, recalling the confusions of "Lethal Weapon". Jean Reno is excellent, as usual, in the role of a tough but very sentimental man. Ryoko Hirosue gives charm to the story, and Michel Muller is the clumsy and quite dumb partner of Hubert. This movie made my family and I laugh a lot, being an excellent entertainment. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Wasabi"

Mission accomplished!

[LeRoyMarko · 7/10 · 4 April 2006]

The goal of this film is to entertain. And it works. Leave your brain at the door and enjoy. The soundtrack is appropriate and good. Jean Reno is at the apex of coolness and Ryoko Hirosue is hip and refreshing. One could say the movie is some kind of techno-cop film that takes some aspects of the traditional French cop movies and push it to the limit during a crazy few days in Tokyo. Great to see the mega-city by the way. The movie is a cross between your typical James Bond and a modern Japanese action flick. Seen at home, in Toronto, on April 4th, 2006.

74/100 (**½)

Quite Possibly The Greatest French-Language, English-Subtitled, Japanese Action-Comedy Of All Time.

[Lady_Targaryen · 8/10 · 8 February 2006]

''Wasabi'' is an excellent movie. It is the third time I watch this movie, and I still cannot be tired of it! It's a mix of comedy and action, having the main language french, but also having some Japanese lines and the story being in Japan. Another nice thing,was seeing a movie showing a modern Japan,without the samurai/geisha cliché. The character Yumi Yoshimido looks exaggerating sometimes in her way to speak or her crazy way to dress,but this is how many of the modern Japanese teenagers behave.I was also very surprise to know that the actress who played Yumi,Ryoko Hirosue, didn't know how to speak french,and she learned her lines phonetically! I am not french, but she spoke in the movie very well to me, and also her acting was great,since she was convincing in her role.

Watch this movie...it's very worthwhile!:)

Entertaining, with a nice blend of French/Japanese Sensibilities

[garyjwms · 10 July 2002]

As others have commented, this is certainly light entertainment, not heavy on elaborate plot lines. I actually saw this movie today on a flight from Japan, and found it delightful. It certainly is a film that was pitched to a French Audience, tossing in simplified bits of Japanese pop culture (Witness: I have never encountered so many Japanese that could speak French, as in this movie). Nevertheless this is what I liked about the movie:

1. The interplay between Fiorentino (Jean Reno) and his sidekick Momo (Michel Muller) was consistently humorous throughout, with Muller delivering the punchline, and nearly upstaging Reno throughout. My favorite scene is when Fiorentino is eating generous gobs of Wasabi (hence the name of the film), and Momo, not wanting to be outdone by his mentor, nearly gags to death on the stuff. I was laughing out loud -- maybe because it reminds me too vividly of the first time I ever ate sushi, and nearly died doing the same thing as Momo!!

2. Ryoko Hirosue, who plays Yumi, the previously unknown daughter to Fiorentini, is one of the current hot young faces in Japan, and has appeared in many TV dramas and movies. She certainly provides all the eye candy I could ever wish for in this film. But I must admit a certain new found-respect for her acting abilities, as she pulled off her lines in French flawlessly, while maintaining her trademark cuteness and capturing the carefree attitude of today's Japanese youth. She provided a foil of a different sort for Reno, her bright colors (pink hair, pink everything) offering a striking contrast to Reno's darker, demure look.

The Yakuza were portrayed as mindless goons in this film, and there are certainly better films out there if you want to know more about Yakuza, but it appeared that they played their role, which was to showcase Reno's machismo, in a humorous way, something along the lines of Jackie Chan films -- they are more like props in the film than anything else.

All in all, I was entertained by this film, which is all I was looking for during my 11 hours crossing the Pacific.

Entertaining and surprisingly funny in places

[martincashman-1 · 7/10 · 15 October 2006]

I never know how to rate these types of films. OK it's no masterpiece to bring some sort of existential meaning to your life and yes it is deeply flawed in many ways even by the standard at which it aims for but nonetheless, I found some endearing quality in its light hearted humour and entertaining style.

Any film with Jean Reno in the lead and Luc Besson behind the script is going to entertain and this does just that. Thankfully the film is kept short enough for none of the flaws to start to irritate and the kick ass French cop goes to Japan theme is done well enough to warrant a viewing.

My DVD had the option for French with English subtitles or English dubbed. Even though Jean Reno does his own over dubbing in the English version, I found the overall effect was a little stale. I restarted the film in French with subtitles and the energy and humour of the performances just shone through a lot better.

Enjoyably silly French/Japanese action flick.

[BA_Harrison · 7/10 · 15 October 2006]

Directed by Gérard Krawczyk (Taxi 2, 3 & 4), and produced by the prolific Luc Besson, Wasabi stars the charismatic Jean Reno as Hubert Fiorentini, a tough Parisian cop who travels to Japan when the only woman he has ever loved dies, naming him in her will.

At the reading of the will, Hubert is told that he has inherited guardianship of Miko's super-cute daughter, Yumi (Ryoko Hirosue), until she reaches the age of 20 (in two days time). It doesn't take a shocked Hubert long to realise that Yumi is also his daughter.

Whilst paying his respects at Miko's funeral, Hubert finds evidence of foul play (cyanide crystals around Miko's nostrils), and later discovers that Yumi's inheritance is a staggering $200,000,000. With help from Momo (Michel Muller), an old friend in the French Intelligence, he uncovers the truth: Miko, a secret agent, went to work undercover in the Yakuza; when her real identity was discovered by the bad-guys, she transferred the Yakuza's money to her daughter's account, but was killed before she could escape.

And now the Yakuza want their cash back...

Wasabi is an enjoyable action/comedy that, with some more action, would've score an 8 out of 10 with me. Reno, Hirosue and Muller are extremely likable in their roles, and Krawczyk does a pretty good job of keeping the fun bubbling along. Only Besson's occasionally sloppy script lets things down in places: a couple of plot lines seemingly go nowhere (Hubert's relationship with Sofia, and something about a book of names and numbers) and despite the promise of some explosive action (we are shown all sorts of amazing firepower), Hubert only ever uses his hand-gun against the baddies. I really wanted to see some of those rocket launchers put to use!

In my experience, Besson movies (whether produced, written or directed) are unpredictable affairs; they range from the great (Leon, The Transporter), to the passably entertaining (Taxi 2), to the pretty mediocre (Kiss of the Dragon, Taxi). Wasabi is nearer the top end of the scale, but with a bit more care and attention, it could have been one of the best.

A good laugh

[tha2ni · 7/10 · 1 November 2001]

The story is about a french policeman with personal working practices that his boss doesn't like much. Jean Reno does very well in this role. His character is the centerpiece of the whole movie. You can also see a snapshot at the Japanese way of life, even though it is adapted to the movie a lot. Not to make this into a long and boring comment, I think you should see this to have a good laugh if you like Jean Reno and his humor.

Quirky comedy with the excellent Jean Reno

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 1 December 2016]

WASABI is a difficult film to describe. It's like a comedy version of LEON, but then it's not. It's a French film, but most of it is set in Japan and it's about the Japanese. It has action, but it's not an action film. I guess this would best be described as a quirky comedy. I usually hate comedies, but I loved this one, so that's saying something. The biggest draw is the presence of Jean Reno playing a tough, sentimental cop. The role seems to have been written for him, because it fits him like a glove, and he's absolutely superb. His comic timing is impeccable and the way he underplays the humour could teach the likes of Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers a thing or two.

In the film, Reno is forced to hang around with a Japanese girl, played by the equally excellent Ryoko Hirosue. This unlikely collaboration is the subject of plenty of laughs as we witness Reno forced to go shopping and hang out at an arcade, where he has a go on a dance mat (for me, the film's highlight). There are some Japanese Yakuza thrown in too, but the action scenes are played for laughs rather than thrills; we witness Reno taking them out in a clothing store and using a golf club to cause some serious pain. Reno is effortlessly cool throughout this, and Michel Muller, as his comic foil, is also surprisingly funny. Things end with a big bank heist climax, which isn't perfect but still fun.

In essence, this is what happens when a good script is paired with fine actors. The laughs are genuine rather than forced, and even the more surreal touches – like Reno's opponents flying through the air when he punches them – work without becoming irritating. I rate this one highly.

Why Be Negative?

[Quicksand · 9/10 · 23 October 2004]

Negative comments sort of miss the point, as this movie wasn't designed to be anything more than harmlessly amusing. To say anything bad about it is rather like kicking a puppy. You wouldn't kick a puppy, would you?

I needn't go into the plot, which you can click a few links to find, but I sought this movie out because Jean Reno is fun in anything he's in, and oh lookit that, Luc Besson wrote the screenplay-- can't go wrong with that, can you? (unless it's an American remake, which luckily this is not).

This movie is FUNNY, at times a little cheesy (which we can also call FRENCH), and the action is over-the-top enough to be cartoonish (when Hubert punches someone, they fly back 20 feet). This is essentially a wacky comedy with some action, something Americans aren't used to seeing, but well worth a look. It's harmless fun, but still more original than your average paint-by-numbers American romantic comedy. Or action film.

Decent and amusing action comedy set on Japan with a fabulous Jean Reno

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 7 May 2018]

It deals with a tough cop called Hubert : Jean Reno who uses sharp and violent methods on his tasks. He is forced to take a vacation when he hits the governor's son and a drag-queen .The violence prone cop winds up in Tokyo at the funeral of a woman he loved years ago , named Miko . Hubert suspects Miko was victim of a foul play carried out by the Japanese Mafia : Yakuza. Hubert also discovers he's left a screechy punk daughter called Yumi , Ryoko, he didn't know about .

Entertaining and fun action movie full of humor , thrills , intrigue , sympathetic roles and attractive dialogue in French and Japanese subtitles .This is one Japanese/French dip you probably wo'nt care to sample ; containing nice scenes , comedy elements , lots of shots , mayhem and bemusement . The movie has an interest as well as charming intrigue behind about a mysterious key and 200 million, in dollars , in the bank and of course the Yakuza get involved. Likeable and catching interpretations by the whole cast .Awesome Jean Reno as a two-fisted police and hard-assed inspector whose sweetheart left him shortly after their engagement without a trace and he returns to Japan . The teen Ryoko Hirosue gives an extremely enjoyable acting as the fiery , eccentric , adorable adolescent . The ugly but diverting Michael Muller plays his old colleague and friend who meets again in Tokyo and both of them undertake several adventures and dangers .And brief performances from Carol Bouquet as an elegant widow and Yoshi Oida as a mobster boss .

It packs an atmospheric as well as adequate cinematography by Gerard Sterin . And an evocatve musical score by synthesizer composed by Eric Serra including Japanese sounds .This high-concept , fast-paced movie and being specially entertaining was well produced by the great producer/director Luc Besson and professionally directed by Gerard Krawczyk . Gerard has directed a lot of notorious and successful films such as Taxi series 1, 2, 3, 4 , Fanfan Le Tulipe , Heroines , Red inn, It is our life . He also made some Tv series as Two ordinary heroes and Taxi Brooklyn . Rating : Fine , nice and agreeable flick . The film will appeal to Jean Reno fans . Well worth watching

Weak and uninspired slapstick action farce

[sunraider · 4/10 · 20 March 2011]

I'm not sure how to characterize this film. It's not a traditional action/comedy where the characters and plot are somewhat in keeping with reality. This is more a farce, with cartoon-like bad-guys (all the Yakuza baddies where black suits and dark sunglasses) and a ridiculous plot. There's some merit in seeing Jean Reno in lighter fare and there's chemistry between his character and the old colleague he meets up with again in Japan, where Reno has come to bury his long lost love and discovers he has a 19 year-old daughter. But the daughter is one of the most annoying screen characters ever, with her childish antics, ADD-personality, and goofy clothes. Her being such an unlikable character hurts the film. We're supposed to be emotionally involved in Reno's character having to save the girl from the evil Yakuza boss, but we aren't because we could't care less about the girl. Overall this was an odd movie and can't be recommended.

Thoroughly Enjoyed this Drama, Action, Comedy

[mudbug-1 · 10/10 · 30 March 2004]

I agree with Jordan above... if you don't like it, than you just don't get it. I actually laughed out loud during the scene which depicts the title of this film, and I don't laugh out loud at anything in films.

Someone compared this to Austin Powers? I don't think so... they don't compare at all. It's no Leon (The Professional), then again, what is? As a huge fan of that film, I was skeptical, but quickly let go when I became involved with the characters. It's more of a comedy than anything else, perhaps somewhat satirical, especially in the "night club". Music? You have to respect the culture, the group it represents, the tone it's trying to set, mainly the daughter's generation.

To me this was an interesting example of how you can take the same story and execute it in a different way. Just relax and have fun with this one!

A silly, cliched, but warm movie!

[markovd111 · 7/10 · 19 February 2020]

This movie is silly. From over the top main character who punches people so hard they fly and very naive plot. But it still manages to be fun and touching, especially if we are talking about main character's relationship with his daughter and sidekick, who is a real blast of fun. It's far from masterpiece and it's very clear that movies like this (among "Crimson Rivers" and "Mission Impossible") were trying to make an action movie hero from Reno, which also brings to the fun, because the guy is really funny when he is trying to be cool. I give the movie 7/10. Yes, it has it's flaws, but it's a piece of fun and warmed my heart, so, yeah, blame me.

Wants to be cool but lacks originality

[rosscinema · 4/10 · 29 June 2004]

This is a film that tries very hard to be stylistic and visually stimulating but I can't see anyone who can't see the obviousness of the story itself. Story starts in Paris, France where a French "Dirty Harry" named Hubert Fiorentini (Jean Reno) gets a call from Tokyo, Japan that his old girlfriend has died and he has been named in the will so he jumps on the next flight for the reading. Once he gets there he is met by Maurice aka: Momo (Michel Muller) whom he has worked with before as an agent for the French Embassy and he takes him to where the body of Miko (Yuki Sakai) is to be cremated. At the reading he is handed a strange key and told that Miko has left him some money in her account but the big news is that he is a father to a girl named Yumi (Ryoko Hirosue).

*****SPOILER ALERT*****

Hubert doesn't tell Yumi he is her father but they head to the bank to check on the money that was left to both of them and it turns out to be $200 million! After learning that he notices that he is being followed and it turns out to be the Yakuza who want their money back that Miko stole.

This film was directed by Gerard Krawczyk who shows that he can make a film with a visual style and it was written by Luc Besson who is a very good director himself. While Krawczyk shows style the problem is that he overdoes it at times and every person who gets shot ends up flying backwards about 20 feet like they were hit by a bus! The main attraction (For me, anyway) is the clash of cultures and I can watch anything that takes place in Japan and I find it a fascinating place to look at in a film. The performances are not to bad and Reno's role is a lot like the one he had in "The Professional" where he plays a gun toting tough guy hanging around a young cute girl. Hirosue is a popular performer in Japan and she does possess a genuine goofy charm but the script doesn't allow for her to be anything but an instrument for Reno's actions. This isn't a bad film and it has enough action to keep you from falling asleep but the script is so predictable and is devoid of any real surprises which keeps this from being anything special and it's definitely something that we have all seen before.

THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINING

[nicholas.rhodes · 8 September 2002]

I am no Jean Reno fan, but I hired this one on DVD today and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although technically a French Film, it was mostly made in Japan and gives some insight into Japanese culture. The film provokes both tears and laughter in successive bouts. I didn't like the beginning with all its techno rubbish, but once that was out of the way and the story got going I really enjoyed myself. Reno was really quite amusing and the storyline, although nothing original, enables the spectator to enjoy him or herself. In addition, the Japanese actress was cute. Although the film cannot be considered a major work of art, it is sure to have international success as its theme is fairly universal and should be appreciated across a wide variety of cultures. There are many things which would make anyone laugh, whatever their culture or origin. There is little typically French about the film and indeed most of the action is in Tokyo. I can say fairely safely that all but the most cynical would get a great deal of fun out of this 90 minute stint. Bravo, and let's hope the film gets known worldwide !

Crazy comedic action

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 21 July 2014]

Hubert Fiorentini (Jean Reno) is a rough Paris cop with tendencies to cause damage. In the latest incident, he punched the Chief's son and even worst when he's in the hospital. Hubert is suspended for 2 months. Sofia (Carole Bouquet) knows that he still has unfinished business. His love Miko disappeared shortly after their marriage 19 years ago in Japan. Then he gets a call from Japan informing him of her death and that he's in her will. He's reunited with detective Momo who he worked with before in the French military. He's given guardianship over Miko's 19 year old daughter Yumi Yoshimido for 2 days until she becomes an adult. He's her father but she doesn't know. He also discovers that Miko had stolen from the Yakuza and had met up with foul play.

It's another Luc Besson story directed by Gérard Krawczyk. The part in Paris has a fun wacky slapstick sense. It's great. Although Carole Bouquet is still beautiful, I don't think she's unnecessary. As for Japan, Ryôko Hirosue plays Yumi like a yappy dog. It's loud and flashy. It misses the opportunity for her to show some brains and figure out their relationship on her own. She should be a smarter character. Nevertheless, it is wild crazy comedic action which is what this movie is driving for. Michel Muller plays the comedic character pretty broadly.

Léon Gangnam style

[petra_ste · 6/10 · 3 April 2014]

A conventional but droll action/comedy, Wasabi follows anti-hero "tough cop who gets results" Hubert (Reno), who travels to Japan to investigate the death of his former girlfriend. Surprise: once there, he meets a daughter he never knew he had (Hirosue).

Thankfully, the movie is graced with the presence of the always reliable Jean Reno. With his quiet intelligence, rough charisma and lovably sullen demeanor, he is one of those actors who manage to elevate everything they star in.

Worth one viewing.

6,5/10

Refreshing...

[buiger · 6/10 · 21 November 2004]

Even though I may agree with most critics on some negative aspects of the film, I must say I did find it to be entertaining in its own funny way. The film is constructed and filmed very much like a comic book (especially the violence scenes - reminded me a little of "Who framed Roger Rabbit). Many of the "absurd" characters in the movie actually serve to make the plot more entertaining while also characterizing many aspects of modern society (the hyperactive daughter, her wacko friends, the stupid and totally un-macho secret service agent, the ridiculous Yakuza boss, the hotel receptionist, etc.) One can say one thing about the film, it is made in a new, refreshing way that makes it different from many others. With a little more effort, it could have been much better. Rating: *** out of *****

Reno is excellent--the rest of the film is pretty good

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 13 April 2008]

This is an interesting film that abruptly changes pace--something that occasionally pays off well, while other times it doesn't. The film begins with Jean Reno playing a Dirty Harry-type cop in France. His answer to every problem seems to be punching people in the face or shooting them. For some inexplicable reason(!), his bosses aren't particularly happy with his methods and suspend him. Then, completely out of the blue, he finds out what happened to his long-lost Japanese wife--she just recently died and her lawyer has contacted Reno about the will. When he arrives in Japan, in addition to being the executor of the will, he also finds out he's been a father for the 19 years since his wife vanished. Now, with a "kooky" new daughter in tow, they are off on some violent adventures.

As for the daughter, she was fine later in the film, but at first she really came off as an obnoxious person and it was hard to see how Reno could resist punching her, as well! Fortunately, this very clichéd bouncy young girl finally began acting believably as the film shifted into overdrive. This shift was when the Yakuza (like the Japanese mob) show up and seem eager to kill Reno and his kooky kid! Throughout all this, Reno is mesmerizing. He's a fine actor and here he carries the entire film. The problem, aside from the distracting girl, is that oddly someone thought it was important to dub this film into English. With Reno, it wasn't so bad--he did his own dubbing since he speaks English so well. But as for most everyone else, they were lousy voice actors--most of the Frenchmen sounded just like Americans. Also, it just made no sense why most of the Japanese people spoke English most of the time. As for me, I always prefer a subtitled film. Still, despite these shortcomings, this is a very good action and father-daughter film--worth your time especially for Reno's seemingly effortless performance.

Love this movie

[xophael · 10/10 · 26 March 2009]

I'm a big fan of Jean Reno and if you are, get this movie. Its has awesome action and some decent comedy, especially from the character Momo. Just looking at him makes you laugh. Its a French movie by Luc Besson. But its dubbed very well and Jeno Reno uses his own voice. Unlike in Le Femme Nakita where it was dubbed by someone else. Basically, the plot is Reno is a cop in France and finds out his girlfriend in Japan who left him 19yrs ago mysteriously died and he goes to the funeral. Talk about not letting go. And finds out he has a 19yr old daughter. But not to go to into it to much, but there is yakuza, explosions, guns, and great one liners. The first 5 mins draws you into the movie with Reno punching out a woman in a dance club. Then 10mins in, drag queens rob a bank and Reno beats their ass bad. Literally. That alone makes you want to keep watching. Just to see what the hell is going to happen next. I'm a bit bias and I gave it a 10, but Its a great action flick that I watched more times then I can count.

entertaining enough

[roadrunner2n · 7/10 · 14 September 2004]

Hmm I have read several comments that pick on the story.... Okay I appreciate in a movie the story then the acting and only in the end the visual effects. But there is a great difference: this one has at least a story that is not annoying or plain stupid like in many movies of this genre (you all know ofc that when making movies like this (comedy, action etc) the story usually isn't a good one )... So the plot is enough to be considered an excuse for the film. The rest ..oh well it's Reno's job :) PS: Someone even complained that "hey everybody Reno meets Japan speaks french"...Bleah that's stupid it's like saying :" why everybody speaks English in Star Trek"

Don't Waste Your Time Its Not Worth it

[nikola17 · 1/10 · 7 November 2016]

for fans for Jean Reno and his movies was great as in Leon The Professional, La Femme Nikita, Ronin, Godzilla, 22 Bullets but this movie is just terrible made i know it's comedy but terrible made action scenes come on they just terrible very bad made when he punch's someone in opening of nightclub scene yeah i have seen better scene then that. he punch's guy they fly all the way back like they been blown away like wind blew him away. the acting buy Jean Reno is very weak the action scenes were very weak they don't last long action scenes goes for 10 seconds that's it ??, Characters were annoying like Maurice 'Momo'(Michel Muller) such annoying character his partner god why does he have to be part of this movie for ?? the story follows tough cop Hubert Fiorentini (Jean Reno) Hubert Fiorentini is a tough cop a commisaire of the French Police who loves to fight crime wow i rather watch Cobra (1986). he is forced to go on vocation for 2 months break he soon found out that one true love, Miko, a Japanese spy he met 19 years prior. Upon receiving news of her death, he is summoned to Japan by her lawyer, Ishibashi (Haruhiko Hirata) for the reading of her will. he has a daughter (Ryōko Hirosue) as Yumi Yoshimido he has to spend time with her awhile he's partner this gets SO ANNOYING again Maurice is annoying trying to be like Hubert but he ends up embarrassing himself too much in my opinion

i don't find this funny expect opening scene when he punched a cross dresser in face when it wasn't a woman, action scenes are so terrible when there's shoot out when Jean Reno character shoots bad guys they flip backwards yeah its funny the director must be stupid and smoking weed while doing it. he doesn't know anything about action movies what is well made even American Movies would know better then this well they have made a lot of bad movies too but this is Much Worser!! Explosion is fake badly CGI made. the action only goes for 5 or ten seconds least i like Jeno Reno shooting at bad guys in gaming area good guns as well, shootout wasn't fake but what is fake the way how bad guys fall while they are getting shot they flip like they hit buy wind again it's terrible made. story is bit weak so weaker the ending is just stupid there is villain doesn't have much of dialog the action fight scenes are OK Jeno Reno fighting with Japanese mafia with golf bats and weapons hitting with them that was well made. but this movie cant stay on set, cant even do better director Gérard Krawczyk is bad director for this movie its Produced by Luc Besson and written buy him i wish if he directed movie when he made Leon: the professional i think he can write this movie better then Geared Krawczyk the action is OK not well made shooting scenes are good all that not its well worth of time wasting movie. sorry i have to give it pass. for action movies like this french action style go watch Transporter that was Produced by Luc Besson still better movie then this. even acting in Wasabi all of it is just bad weak made shame for Jeno Reno made this movie i wish they made Leon: the professional 2 rather then this crap movie. 1.10 or 0.1 its worth it on your time its a BIG WASTER THEN ANY MOVIE

A French Blockbuster...

[dindoo · 8/10 · 4 March 2002]

*** It's not a "Drama" it's an Action/Comedy film. ***

Still a big French production signed Besson.

What I expected. In France this film received an enormous promotion, letting to us think that it was about a comedy spiced by a significant share of action. Réno and Muller were to form an explosive couple and to carry out the survey in Japan. Hirosue, unknown until then of the French public, had added to the exoticism of the Japanese scenes.

The story holding in one line: The ex-girlfriend of Hubert Fiorentini died in Japan, without this last not being had a news of it lasting 19 years, and he owes occupper of their daughter.

What I saw. I would not speak about the contents of the scenario. I saw a good film. " It is all? " Almost. In fact the performence of Muller is not exceptional as it's announced. There is nothing to say on Jean Réno who is as usual. The film never really impressed me by its scenario. However it is necessary to note the absence of the abuse of pyrotechnical effects... and it's well. The scene of actions, like French can do them, are effective. Here not need to make expose a Boeing, four tanks and twenty cars to have a GOOD scene of action. Let us note the recourse to the numerical effects, but without abuse. The first start in France with the presence of the charming Carole Bouquet - good. But the best in this film is : Ryoko Hirosue. I had undoubtedly never seen it before Ryoko Hirosue. It is she who gives the tone to this film, Ryoko Hirosue is the radiant sun. The fact that she plays in French is there for much, and with a very pretty voice.

In two words: it is a good film to see between friends, without expecting big action like in 'Leon' nor hilarious moments like in 'Shrek'... but a good distraction. Wonderful Ryoko Hirosue.

It's called Entertainment.

[beacitizen · 7/10 · 8 September 2008]

This film was intended, quite clearly (to all but the most naive i suppose), to be a pastiche of your typical American "good cop with a bad attitude" action movie.

As the film progresses it assumes the unenviable task of showcasing every action-movie cliché under the sun whilst at the same time attempting to keep you entertained with an endless array of simple, and entertaining, jokes. If Wasabi's humour was not delivered in such a deadpan manner (credit to Jean Reno for that) it would be an abhorent piece of tripe (like most attempts at parody). When i watch a low-grade parody movie i usually notice that both the cast and crew seem to gallop through every scene, putting in very little effort whilst winking at the audience as if to say "See? I'm making fun of bad movies. How clever am i?" However, Luc Besson (writer and producer) has gone with the idea of combining self-referential humour (which is of course common to all parody films) with enough straight acting (difficult in such an absurd movie) to lodge the film in some strange quasi-universe where the characters are never quite aware of the absurdity of their situation, even when it's staring them in the face. It is neither straight-out farce nor a serious attempt at film making. It does not pay loving homage to the action genre or massacre it. The film instead strides this delicate balance, always in danger of tipping over into meaninglessness but somehow never doing it.

The action is eye-catching, the humour is very french and in anyone else's hands it would be nothing more than trash. It's not though, because this is Luc Besson. In short - it's not a film, it's a movie. So watch it like one.

Shoddy Commercial Product

[DawsonChu · 5/10 · 20 March 2018]

This film is another shoddy commercial product under dominated by Luc Besson. It is filled with moldy plot and arrogant logic. Both the display of Japanese culture and design of the facetious atmosphere are very perfunctory. Therefore, the hardworking of talented actress Ryoko Hirosue could only highlights every defect of the film itself. Generally speaking, it seems that the idea of selling genre films as a cheap commodity to foreign audience has already ingrained in Luc Besson's mind for many years.