“Triple Threat” (2019)
Triple Threat (2019)
“That’s the worst mistake you’ll never live long enough to regret.” — Michael Jai White, “Triple Threat”
Allow me to state, in advance, that I love martial arts films, action films, and a good, unpretentious B-Movie.
I also love Michael Jai White (“Black Dynamite”), Tony Jaa (“Protector) and Iko Uwais (‘The Raid”), admire Jeeja Yanin (‘Chocolate” as Yanin Mitananda), and think Scott Adkins is amazing.
A chance to see all of them collide in the same movie triggered a serious “take my money” response, as soon as I read a couple of reviews that implied it was watchable. Hey, not all of them are, quite frankly.
And…within the limitations of the genre, as well as translating Asian film ethics to an American market (all of the characters are speaking English, probably phonetically in some cases) “Triple Threat” was the most fun I’ve had watching a martial arts movie in maybe a year.
Just a “B” movie. VERY violent at times (stunningly so in one moment. Yow!) and with some major logic holes (one, involving police response to a major event, almost broke suspension of disbelief. But…what the hell, right?)
So…here’s the story. Soldier Michael Jai White hires Tony Jaa and “Tiger” Chen as guides to rescue some villagers. But it was a lie, and the entire operation was actually to rescue terrorist Scott Adkins, White’s friend and commander. The village is slaughtered, the guides left for dead.
And Iko Uwais is a policeman who came from that village, and whose wife was killed in the attack.
Are we clear on this? Is the rest of the film not obvious? No? Then add a billionaire heiress out to break the crime bosses, targeted by the terrorists soon after, with Iko going undercover in a maze of double and triple crosses which, in the hands of John Woo might have been one of the greatest Asian action films EVER.
This wasn’t that. What it was, however, was an opportunity to see more crazy pairings of martial arts styles and genders and personalities and sizes I’ve seen in a LOOOONG time. Well done, sharply photographed, full of personality, often surprising, with intelligent use of environment (ah, cinder-block fu, I love you). This is one of those “put your brain on `hold’, suspend moral judgement and enjoy the deadly ballet’ movies.
Oh, and lots of gun play. And explosions, and chases, and tough guy dialogue that will make you choke on your popcorn with glee. This is grindhouse cinema at a delightful level, really, a movie that doesn’t try to be anything but what it is, and succeeds more often than not. A solid, enjoyable “B” movie, available VOD.
Namaste
Steven Barnes