Customer Reviews

Wasabi

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Essentially it's a story about a man (Jean Reno) called Hubert. He has no life other than his cop life. He has a tendency to proceed about investigations in a rather violent manner (he actually punches anyone, good guy or bad guy, who gets in the way or interupts him). The chief puts him on leave for 2 months for his violent behavious. Then he gets a phone call from a lawyer telling him that his lover, Miko, has died. The whole movie is about the mystery Miko leaves after her death. Along the way, he manages to find out that he has actually fathered a Japanese daughter (with Miko) called Yumi.

This movie can be 'analysing material', but not as itself. This is because Jean Reno has this history of playing men who have fighting and shooting as their job description, e.g. The Cleaner in Luc Besson's Nikita; The Professional. So Jean Reno actually brings his screen experiences on board the show. Unless you happen to be watching him act for the first time, it is quite hard to detach yourself from his film pressence.

The French and Japanese mix is interesting enough. But Japanese culture is not really presented realistically here. Sure, the surface materialistic youth culture carries across, but no more than this. Yumi's plaintive cries for her papa are touching, but shallow. She also cries a whole lot.

The dialogue is witty. The camera angles are nice, especially when Yumi sticks her legs up in the lawyer's office. It's a great movie, not too intense, enjoyable, funny, action packed. Would I buy the DVD? Probably not. I do not think it bears rewatching.

I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about films, but in purchasing Wasabi (2001), I had no prior knowledge about the movie other than it was written by Luc Besson and starred Jean Reno, who were both involved in Nikita (1990) and The Professional (1994), two wonderful films worth any action movie fan's time. Given the talent involved in Wasabi, I thought it would be a pretty worth looking into, and I wasn't disappointed.

Reno stars a Hubert, a retired secret government operative who is now a no nonsense French cop who seems to follow the guidelines within the Dirty Harry Law Enforcement Manual, that's to say his methods, while extreme, get results. The films dives headfirst into the action as we see Hubert single-handedly bust up a transvestite bank robbery ring. While Hubert is very good at what he does, his superior notes that that is all he does, as Hubert has no life. That, along with pressures from a local politician with regards to Hubert's' old school tactics, forces Hubert's boss to put him on extended vacation, with a recommendation that he basically get a life.

Soon Hubert gets word that a Japanese woman he once loved but who left him almost 20 years ago to which he still carried a torch for, has recently passed, and she has named him in her will. He travels from France to Japan to witness the reading of the will, and see his long, lost love, but gets more than he bargained for as he learns the woman had a daughter, Hubert's daughter. Not only that, but the woman has also left a mystery behind not only in why she left him in the first place, but why now the Yakuza is after the daughter. Hubert must learn his now deceased lover's involvement with the Yakuza, protect himself and his daughter, named Yumi, and deal with the fact that he's an instant father, and the complications of having to try and relate to a 19 year old girl.

Wasabi mixes a very genuine blend of action, comedy, and a pinch of drama pretty successfully. The action is pretty steady throughout, and is more of the comic book variety, like what you might see in a Jackie Chan film. The comedy comes mostly in the form of Hubert's contact in Japan, a fellow Frenchman named Momo, whom Hubert worked with many years ago when he was a government operative. Momo reminded me of a chubbier version of Rob Schneider, except a bit funnier. The drama, while present but not over done, comes in the form of Hubert and Yumi trying to come to terms with the fact that they are now all they have. While the combination of these three elements doesn't allow for a whole lot of substance within the story, that mattered little as this was just a fun, exciting ride I enjoyed all the way to the end. Certainly one who has seen the Besson/Reno film The Professional will notice similarities, but more or less these two films relate superficially. What's really interesting is how much this French-made film looks like an American actioneer.

The quality of the wide screen picture here looks great, and the audio is really excellent. Keep in mind the dialog is in French, with English subtitles available, but there is also a dubbed English track, for those of you who don't care to read while watching a film. I, myself, preferred to allow the original voices to come out, while reading the translation below. The dubbed voices sound a bit weird at times, especially since I am fairly familiar with how Jean Reno's voice sounds like, and the guy hired to dub him is way off. As far as extras go, there are some theatrical trailers available, for this film, and Formula 51 (2001), Swept Away (2002), and Trapped (2002). While Wasabi really isn't a cinematic feast, it's definitely a satisfying appetizer, and sometimes that's all you need.

Cookieman108

It's not the greatest, deepest movie ever filmed. But it doesn't aim to be. Luc Besson provides a light, humorous, and easy-on-the-brain flick that leaves a clean taste behind. Great for casual rental or to have in your DVD library to entertain friends when they're looking for something to watch. The pace keeps you engaged, the story is silly but fun, and the actors are more than watchable.

Wasabi, one of the latest products of Luc Besson sector. However anti-American movie fans have raised their `Yankee Go Home' banners; to my mind this comedy - action film which is harmonized with French - Japon sensibilities, can be an alternative film to American movies.

Luc Besson - Jean Reno cooperation is going on. Leading character Hubert is a puncher policeman just like in American movies, ignoring legal details, fighting against the bad people. Again just like in American movies, Hubert has a chief who is complaining and shouting all the times; at the other hand he likes Hubert. Love book of Hubert is empty for 19 years, after a Japon woman has broken his heart and left him with memories, meal descriptions and a beautiful pen. Hubert has closed his love book and has focused on crime world. Then he learns that his Japan woman has died and has left him an inheritance: a daughter. Time for a Japan voyage.

Just focusing on the story, it is easy to think that this film doesn't have any difference from American ones. But this film isn't an American popcorn movie; it is a French / Japan popcorn movie.

There are enough big guns, rocket launchers, bombs; but the action scenes is not in American style, Hubert generally finishes his work quickly with one punch. In American movies the bullets let people fly backward for 2 meters; Hubert can fly people for 5 meters.

Sense of humor which is full of small coincidences and comic events is extremely French. Lets turn to the Japan side of the film: there are many Japan people. The beautiful girl of the film is Hubert's Japan daughter Yumi. I find her very cute with her teenage gestures and phone talks beginning with `mochie, mochie'.

By this film, I've surprised that there are many Japan including policemen and mobsters speaking French very well.

If you want to watch a French (and a little Japan) comedy - action movie similar with American ones (but not in American style), I'll advice you this film. At worst you will lose time.

This was a solid film. A lot of people didn't care for it because they believed it to be rather hokey, to me that's what made it great. Watch it in French with English subtitles or you lose the feel of the film. Michele Muller and Ryoko Hirosue boast great cameos, but Jean Reno showed why he is one of my favorites in Hollywood these days. His role as Hubert in a dilapidated combination of rogue cop and gentleman bring's the viewer back to why "Leon" was such a fine film, Reno's acting. This was great and one that you generally find by accident, a great accident.

why do people even care of make these movies especially with great actors like Reno. I would like to know what Reno himself feels about this movie once he had seen it after completion. incoherent completely abnormal and pathetic story line. something between James Bond and Black Rain. This is a disaster of a movie. most directors think that if they can take the plot to Japan or Korea then every thing can be solved using the gang related plot. Well then you end up with this kind of junk movie . This is not worth watching

I am a big fan of Jean Reno, so I guess that I am a bit biased. This is one fun movie, though even if you are not a fan of Reno. This is in part due to the writing credits of Luc Besson, a long-time collaborator of Reno's, famously teaming together for the brilliant Leon aka' The Professional, my all time favorite piece of cinema! While this movie doesn't have the depth and brilliant script of Leon, it is certainly a fine piece of work from both Besson and Reno. Adding to the wonderful spicy flavor of this dish, we have Ryoko Hirosue, who is an absolute gem as Hubert's surprise daughter, and Michael Muller, Hubert's longtime partner, who is hillarious when he takes a big scoop of wasabi and puts it in his mouth, the look on his face....priceless!! We should see more of him in domestic movies, he is quite a card! The cast plays off each other very well and the scene with Hubert's past love, lying in the coffin as Reno looks at her, is very touching and sweet. Bottom line, this is a sweet fun movie, plenty of action, humor and entertains divinely!! The movie also has a wonderful soundtrack, although it is not available here in the states, but definitely worth going to the trouble to get. I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a great fun movie and it will be definitely worth the time you spend to watch!!! Hai!

I am a big fan of Jean Reno, so I guess that I am a bit biased. This is one fun movie, though even if you are not a fan of Reno. This is in part due to the writing credits of Luc Besson, a long-time collaborator of Reno's, famously teaming together for the brilliant Leon aka' The Professional, my all time favorite piece of cinema! While this movie doesn't have the depth and brilliant script of Leon, it is certainly a fine piece of work from both Besson and Reno. Adding to the wonderful spicy flavor of this dish, we have Hirosue Ryoko, who is an absolute gem as Hubert's surprise daughter, and Michael Muller, Hubert's longtime partner, who is hillarious when he takes a big scoop of wasabi and puts it in his mouth, the look on his face....priceless!! We should see more of him in domestic movies, he is quite a card! The cast plays off each other very well and the scene with Hubert's past love, lying in the coffin as Reno looks at her, is very touching and sweet. Bottom line, this is a sweet fun movie, plenty of action, humor and entertains divinely!! The movie also has a wonderful soundtrack, although it is not available here in the states, but definitely worth going to the trouble to get. I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a great fun movie and it will be definitely worth the time you spend to watch!!! Hai!

ï¿Wasabiï¿ is a high-spirited French action comedy with a Japanese name. This Luc Besson production stars Jean Reno in a wonderful performance as a tough-guy French cop who is as quick to use his tongue as his overeager fists. One day, out of the blue, Detective Fiorentino discovers that he has a 19 year-old daughter by a Japanese woman who left him almost 20 years ago, breaking his heart in the process. The girl, Yumi, turns out to be an orange-haired free spirit who hates cops and has been led to believe that her father raped her mother. Much of the film is spent with Hubert and Yumi getting to know one another, as they uncover secrets about her motherï¿s past that seem to have made the young woman the target of some rather unsavory characters.

The plot is the least of the matter in this film. As directed by Gerard Krawczyk, ï¿Wasabiï¿ is really all about style. Bessonï¿s screenplay is fitfully amusing, doling out cleverness and cutesyness in roughly equal measure. Cinematographer Gerard Sterin brings out the colorful richness of the urban Japanese landscape and editor Yanne Herve doesnï¿t linger longer on the jokes and sight gags than is absolutely necessary. These elements help to compensate for the somewhat desperate air that afflicts the screenplay from time to time.

The prime asset of ï¿Wasabiï¿ is Jean Renoï¿s performance. Reno perfectly mines the comic potential inherent in the material through the tone of weary cynicism and superiority to all around him that he conveys throughout. As an actor who has played this type of rogue-cop character many times in his career, Reno obviously relishes this opportunity for a little good-natured self-ribbing. And he does a splendid job.

ï¿Wasabiï¿ is little more than a piffle when all is said and done, but Reno makes it worth seeing.

I'd been eyeing up this DVD for quite awhile but finally broke down and bought it this past weekend. I wish I hadn't waited so long. In a story written and produced by Luc Besson, Jean Reno gets to have a little more fun in this action comedy instead of being all serious as he was in Leon The Professional and Ronin (which I loved). The supporting cast does a great job highlighting his character. I would love to see Reno revisit his Hubert Fiorentini persona again in the near future. In the meantime, check out him out here and don't forget the wasabi.