Awesome Asian Bad Guys

Awesome Asian Bad Guys is a 2014 action-comedy film directed by Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino, founders of the National Film Society. The film stars Dypiangco and Epino alongside Tamlyn Tomita, known for her roles in The Joy Luck Club and The Karate Kid Part II. The cast also boosts familiar faces from the 80s and 90s era, such as Al Leong, Yuji Okumoto, George Cheung, and Randall Park, who all made a name for themselves playing "Asian bad guys" in various action blockbuster films.

The film is a homage to the unsung Asian-American actors of the 80s and 90s who often played stereotypical villains in action films. By incorporating a modern take on the action-comedy genre, the film serves both as a tribute as well as a platform to showcase the talents of these said actors beyond their villainous roles from the past.

The story of Awesome Asian Bad Guys is a clever mash-up of genres and eras. The plot sees Dypiangco and Epino in their semi-biographical roles as themselves. The duo decide to recruit their action heroes from the past to confront a real-life villain in Los Angeles. They embark on this mission to serve justice for a friend, bringing them face-to-face with dangerous mobsters, explosive situations, and hilarious mishaps. All this while, the team trying to leverage the strengths of their B-movie training and experiences.

These recruited "bad guys" are known for their roles in a number of iconic Hollywood films. For instance, Al Leong is best recognized for starring as a secondary yet memorable antagonist in hit movies like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon. Likewise, George Chung was a common sight as a villainous henchman in titles such as Rambo II. Yuji Okumoto is remembered for his role as the cruel karate champ in Karate Kid II. Lastly, Randall Park - though less known for his villain roles - brings his comedic strengths having gained fame in sitcoms like Fresh Off the Boat.

The film captures many tropes commonly seen in the action genre and combines them with satirical elements, creating a rounded parody of the genre itself. With Dypiangco and Epino's background in online video content creation for their platform National Film Society, the narrative structure embraces a unique blend of semi-biographical humor with the sensibilities and pacing of digital content. This gives the film a fresh perspective that feels akin to a web series.

As part of the cast, Tamlyn Tomita stands out with her comedic timing and, unbeknownst to many, a knack for action. She plays a know-it-all detective, and with the movie's tongue-in-cheek humour, her portrayal is a playful reminder of her more serious roles in the past, providing some of the movie's most memorable moments.

The film's strength lies in its ability to seamlessly blend the feeling of low-budget indie film charm with high-octane action sequences, encapsulating a sense of nostalgia for the characters that these actors once played, now put in an entirely new context.

Awesome Asian Bad Guys is a love letter to the action B-movies of yesteryear and the Asian-American actors who never got their due. By purposefully playing with clichés and tropes, the film not only entertains but also satirizes these stereotypes, acknowledging the pigeonholing yet celebrating the impact these actors had on the film industry. It's a movie filled with humor, action, and a surprising amount of heart which proves that these "bad guys" can be just as interesting, if not more so, than the traditional heroes.

Its distinct blend of nostalgia, humor, and self-referential comedy makes Awesome Asian Bad Guys a unique and enjoyable viewing experience. The film succeeds in being a fitting tribute to the era, while also pushing boundaries to offer something new. It serves as a fantastic showcase for these underappreciated actors, proving that they are as capable of carrying a film, as they were at stealing scenes in the background of some of the best action films of the 80s and the 90s.

Most importantly, Awesome Asian Bad Guys takes viewers on an exhilarating and fun-filled ride that redefines what it means to be an action hero. It is, in the end, truly a celebration of diversity, a humorous critique of stereotypes, and a refreshing entry into the world of action-comedy cinema.