Hong Kong action from the 1990s in another of Eureka’s handsome re-releases of almost forgotten female-led fisticuffs. She Shoots Straight stars Joyce Godenzi as a newlywed police officer battling a Vietnamese gang whilst also trying to fit in with her new inlaws. She’s marrying Tony Leung Ka-fai who comes from a family of dedicated police officers, causing a stir and a lot of jealousy from her sisters-in-law particularly one sister, Carina Lau. There’s also the overbearing mother to deal with too…
When the family is targeted by a Vietnamese gangster, played by Yuen Wah from Kung Fu Hustle, matter get bloody and revenge becomes a necessity. Action director Yuen, who also directed the Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock cop thriller Yes Madam, once again choreographs some excellent action showpieces: a motorbike/car chase, a weird bamboo trap sequence with tragic consequences, and some intense hand-to-hand-to-machete sequences, along with indiscriminate shootouts.
This, however, is coupled with odd moments of comedy, and some fairly well-acted drama when one of the family members is killed. The bond of the sisters-in-law becomes strengthened, and Godenzi and Lau make a formidable team against Yuen Wah and an endless supply of henchmen. Action superstar and frequent Jackie Chan collaborator Sammo Hung cameos but has minimal fight time, leaving that in the capable fists and feet of Godenzi and Lau.
Violent, well-staged nonsense with the usual bizarre tonal shifts and outrageous sound effects, this new release of She Shoots Straight comes with commentary from Asian film experts Frank Djeng, Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, along with a tour guide of the shooting locations.
Dir: Cory Yuen (15, 92 mins)
She Shoots Straight is released on Blu-Ray via Eureka Classics on Mon 18 Sept
words KEIRON SELF
