Review of She Shoots Straight

Introduction

`She Shoots Straight` sounds better on paper than it actually is. For fans of high-octane, HK Martial Arts cinema, there`s a `battling babes` scene at the end that might be worth the price of admission alone. For the rest of us though this is a very mediocre affair.

Produced by Sammo Hung (who also appears in the film) and directed by Corey Yuen (The Transporter), She Shoots Straight is pretty much a vehicle for half-Chinese, half-Australian, Joyce Godenzi - coincidentally wife of aforementioned Mr. Hung.

There`s no doubt that Godenzi is pretty remarkable at performing stunts, high-kicks, somersaults and motorcycling feats. It`s just that she, and everyone else involved, struggle a little on perhaps a more important aspect of good movie making - the acting.

The story is straightforward enough, though is often ponderous with some scenes being eked out well past their view by date. Action, impressive though it is, is nowhere near as frequent as you feel a film like this needs.

There are some really clumsy attempts at both humour and pathos, but its tired and wooden stuff, entirely unconvincing in every respect.

Joyce Godenzi plays the part of Mina Kao, a fiercely ambitious police-officer newly married to her colleague and fellow officer Huang Tsung-Pau (Tony Leung), who is disliked by her four sisters-in-law who (coincidentally) all work for her at the local police headquarters.

When the police get wind of a proposed raid on a local nightclub by a ruthless Vietnamese gang, Mina and her female colleagues pose as hostesses at the club to await the action. Things go badly and there`s a furious chase and shootout, which results in the death of the Vietnamese gang-leader`s brother.

In a revenge attack, Mina`s husband, and the four girls brother, is brutally murdered by the gang. Differences, as well as police protocol, are brushed aside as the girls unite to avenge their brother`s death.

The highlight of the movie is certainly the final 15 minutes, which sees Godenzi thrash it out with former bodybuilding champion Agnes Aurelio.

Video

Made in 1990 in Hong Kong, there`s an unappealing pallor to the movie from the outset. It looks and feels like an eighties pop video; soft and cheesy with a residing grain. The transfer is reasonable though with little sign of wear and minimal artefacting.

Audio

There`s a choice here but not much of one. There`s an English DD 5.1 track though it`s singularly the worst dub I`ve since `The Flashing Blade` in the late `60`s! I couldn`t bear more than 10 minutes or so of that so reverted to Cantonese with subtitles which was far more satisfactory. There was a choice of mono or 5.1 on this so opted for the 5.1 which was fine if a little unimaginative (dialogue to the centre, music and effects to the rear).

Features

· JOYCE GODENZI BIOGRAPHY - This is a scrolling text piece that is reasonably informative

· HONG KONG HEROINES GALLERY - this comprises four trailers featuring four HK heroines. Joyce Godenzi in `Eastern Condors`; Chingmy Yau in `Naked Killer`; Michelle Yeah and Cynthia Robinson in `Police Assassins` and Yukari Oshima in `Millionaire`s Express`.

· ORIGINAL THEATRICAL TRAILER

· UK PROMO TRAILER

· SAMMO HUNG SOUNDBITE "ON WORKING WITH JOYCE GODENZI": which lasts for around 1 minute, and which seems a little pointless as he`s merely singing the praises of his own wife, ex-Miss Hong Kong and substantially his junior.

· BATTLING BABES FEATURETTE - This is an 8-minute featurette that uses interviews with a number of leading HK female players, as well as rehearsal footage and illustrative film clips, though no sign of Godenzi anywhere.

Conclusion

`She Shoots Straight` promises far more than it delivers. Made in 1990 it has an eighties hangover feel to it, with some pretty awful sets and scenes.

There`s no doubt that previously untrained Joyce Godenzi turns in a simply spectacular performance from a martial arts action point of view, though there is far too little of it to elevate this movie from it`s low to middling status.

The story, dialogue and direction are frequently pedestrian, and the pacing of the movie is all over the place. There are scenes here that last literally minutes longer than they should have done (the Mother`s birthday celebration, for example), and others where more would have been welcome.

Overall this should be strictly reserved for those with a healthy interest in martial arts cinema, or an unhealthy interest in girl-on-girl fighting action. For the rest of us though, there is little here to recommend it.