Wasabi (2001)

Usually, the cliché goes that French films are mostly people endlessly flapping their gums and nothing happens. I have no idea where that came from. Or maybe I do, seeing as generations of kids were shown only fairly boring or mediocre French films in school, because the cool stuff was often a little too much for our tender souls. But fun and adventurous French cinema does exist, it just doesn't get that much recognition outside of the country itself.

Why do I start this way? Because 'Wasabi' is one of the more highly entertaining French films I've seen (and I've seen quite a few, actually). It also helps that it stars the always wonderful Jean Reno, who manages to be brilliant, even in films that don't deserve it.

Don't believe me? Watch Roland Emmerich's horrendous 'Godzilla' and tell me Jean Reno isn't the sole reason to watch that utter piece of iguana shite. I dare you.

Reno is Hubert, a French police officer who tends to use excessive force to get results. He more or less accidentally beats up the son of a nightclub owner and is forced to take some leave. During that time, he gets word that the woman he loved 19 years ago passed away, and that he has to travel to Japan because he is the sole person mentioned in her will. There he discovers he actually has a daughter named Yumi. That is not all, but apparently Yumi has a bankaccount filled with millions of dollars and the Yakuza are after her money.

Sure, the story ticks all the boxes of a fairly standard police action/comedy (which is pretty much is), but 'Wasabi' is heaps of fun thanks to the flashy and kinetic camerawork and editing, Jean Reno doing his best to enjoy himself, Ryoko Hirosue who plays the role of his daughter with gusto and a lot of laughs in between. If you can, check the scene in the warehouse where Reno takes out Yakuza spies without his daughter noticing, or when he is eating wasabi with his friend Momo. They're hilarious.

The action is also pretty high octane and it all culminates in a short, but stylistically cool shootout in a bank. It's not as brutal or over the top as some American films would make it, but this way is a lot more fun and even though certain effects are exaggerated (people that get shot fly all over the place), it simply looks great.

You know what else is pretty impressive? Actress Ryoko Hirosue doesn't speak French and learned all her dialogue phonetically by heart. Sure, she has a Japanese accent when speaking French, but it's still pretty friggin' impressive.

'Wasabi' is a fun romp, a cool action comedy and unfortunately often overlooked. Now is the time to set the record straight.