I'm a big fan of Richard Lo's score, which often sounds like a slightly more diverse, sophisticated take on the music we got in the 1987 'Teenage mutant ninja turtles' cartoon, or the live-action movies from the early 90s. I'm less of a fan of the English dubbing in the version of 'City cops' ('Miao tan shuang long') I was able to watch, inauthentic and questionably synced - I far prefer subtitles, any day - but so it goes. I like how the feature launches us quickly into an opening scene of action, and as is broadly true with most of star Cynthia Rothrock's films (at least those from the 80s and 90s), the fight choreography and sequencing is very well done. On the other hand, that the scene is so fast-pace, and defined by low lighting, makes one stop and rewind to get a better sense of who these characters are as we glimpsed them so quickly. From there the picture is characterized by light humor and levity as the plot gradually develops, which I've come to learn is not atypical for Hong Kong action flicks. How successful that attempted flavor is will vary wildly from one viewer to the next, and I say this in no small part because within minutes after that reasonably strong opening scene, we're greeted with prominent transphobia, homophobia, sexism, and - incredibly - infuriating, brazen serophobic remarks. How much the blame lies with prolific screenwriter Barry Wong for these ugly, unnecessary flourishes, versus how much can be chalked up to imperfect or deliberately rough translation in dubbing, is up for debate, but the viewing experience is immediately put on thin ice.
The broad strokes of the narrative are quite fine, and when they're not marred by unseemly prejudices, there's some sharp cleverness in the dialogue and scene writing - though also some tropes and action flick convention. Characters are mostly unremarkable, but serve their purpose well. I think the writing would have greatly benefited from a more trim, tight approach; the precise course of events isn't always entirely clear, especially in the more dramatic moments, and some small inclusions feel arbitrary. Still, more so than not - unwelcome indelicacies aside - I think Wong's contribution is capable.
Acting is at most a secondary concern in a film where martial arts action takes precedence, but the performances are suitable for the tenor here. And with that - again, importantly, the fight scenes are very well done, the one aspect we can dependably rely on. Some instances carry tones more playful or dire, and there's enough variety in the scene writing and orchestration of action sequences that they never feel overdone or repetitive. This component of 'City cops' is consistently exciting and entertaining, not least of all at the climax, to the point that it's unquestionably the film's top highlight.
From a technical standpoint I think the feature's construction is competent, comparable to like titles from the same timeframe. In general I think the picture is a good bit of fun. I simply wish more care were put into the writing; it is what lays the foundation for all that is well done, but also bears enough flaws and shortcomings as to dampen the entertainment. The first twenty minutes or so needed to be rebuilt from scratch, excising tawdry, inappropriate dialogue, and just a tad more mindfulness and succinct clarity would have gone a long way towards strengthening the plot and its development. Ultimately I like 'City cops,' and I think it's fairly solid - but it could and should have been better than it is, and its completely extraneous faults sadly detract from delicious, ripe action.
Anyone who has difficulties with the more jocular nature of 80s Hong Kong martial arts won't find anything to change their mind, but those who appreciate the style should feel right at home. Once more, emphatically, the fight choreography is terrific, and all by itself constitutes value that makes 'City cops' worth a look. That the title is brought low by imperfect writing, and specifically by seedy garnishes early on, is deeply unfortunate. If you have a chance to watch this, I do think it's deserving, with the forewarning that it pointlessly and pointedly crosses a line almost right out of the gate.
Sigh.
