High Risk (1995 film)

High Risk (Chinese: 鼠胆龍威; Cantonese Yale: Shu dam lung wai), (also known in the United States as Meltdown) is a 1995 Hong Kong action film written, produced and directed by Wong Jing, starring Jet Li, Jacky Cheung, Chingmy Yau, Charlie Yeung, Billy Chow, Kelvin Wong and Valerie Chow. Corey Yuen serves as the film's fight choreographer. This is Kelvin Wong's final film appearance, who has retired from acting after his final movie.

The film is a parody of some of Hollywood's most influential action films, such as Die Hard and Speed. It also gained controversy for spoofing Jackie Chan, who was, in turn, offended by the satire.

Meltdown is the title given to this film in the United States by Columbia TriStar Home Video (now known as Sony Pictures Home Entertainment).

Synopsis

Police officer Kit (Jet Li) leaves his job after his family is killed by a terrorist named The Doctor. Kit becomes a bodyguard for movie star Frankie (Jacky Cheung) who is reported to perform his own stunts. The report is untrue; Frankie is a drunken womanizer incapable of performing the stunts, and Kit performs them for him. Frankie attends a gala event in a high-rise hotel where The Terrorist shows up and takes everyone hostage. Kit has an opportunity to face his family's killer and save Frankie and the rest of the hostages.^[1]

Cast and characters

• Jet Li as Kit Li - Kit used to work for the police, but left the force after losing his wife and son in a bomb threat he thought he had defused. He later became the personal body guard of Frankie and would even perform stunts for him when Frankie was inebriated. He is an expert martial artist and fights most of the major villains throughout most of the film.
• Jacky Cheung as Frankie Lone - Frankie was a famous and popular action movie star famous for doing all of his own stunts. In reality he was a very lazy and lecherous actor, often showing up drunk or trying to pick up women. Because of his constant slacking, he lost a lot of his edge, but reclaimed at the end of the movie when his dad was being beat up. His character is assumed to be a spoof of Jackie Chan and he fights similar to Bruce Lee. He even wears the yellow jump suit with the black trim during the film.
• Kelvin Wong as The Doctor - The Doctor is the criminal mastermind behind the terrorist activities. He planted the bomb that killed Kit's wife and son.
• Valerie Chow as Fai-Fai - The Doctor's stiletto-heel and pantyhose wearing, machete-wielding partner.
• Billy Chow as Kong - One of the Doctor's henchmen. He is obsessed with Frankie Lone, even to the point of fantasizing about defeating him in a fight.
• Chingmy Yau as Helen - A tabloid reporter trying to make a name for herself by ruining Frankie Lone, if only Kit would stop trying to interfere. When he rescues her, she eventually falls in love with him. Played by Chingmy Yau.
• Charlie Yeung as Joyce - One of the girls working at the Hotel Grandeur. She is the reluctant girlfriend of rookie detective Chow Kam.
• Yang Chung-Hsieng as Det. Chow Kam - A rookie policeman who also happens to be Joyce's boyfriend—if he could ever put the job behind him for a minute.
• Charlie Cho as Charlie Tso - Frankie Lone's manager. Killed by the Doctor when he is thrown off the balcony of the Hotel Grandeur.
• Suki Kwan - Li's Wife
• Corey Yuen - Wai
• Wu Ma as Frankie Lone's father

Reception

Box office

The film grossed a modest HK $11,403,790 in Hong Kong, where it was released as 鼠胆龍威 (High Risk, Rat's bravery and Dragon's might), which parodies the title of Die Hard (虎膽龍威 Tiger's bravery and Dragon's might) in Hong Kong.

The movie takes a cinematic swipe at Jackie Chan, with whom director Wong Jing had worked previously on the City Hunter live-action film. Through the character of Frankie Lone, Wong insinuating that Chan was actually a boozing womanizer and a fraud who did not really do his own stunts after all. After the release of High Risk, Chan not only disowned the film, but attacked Wong personally in the press.

See also

• Jet Li filmography
• Jacky Cheung filmography

References

External links

• High Risk at the Internet Movie Database
• Love HK Film review