Streaming on Netflix
Release Date: April 25, 2024 (USA & Canada)
Part of City Hunter’s appeal lies in the fact it’s a very hilarious buddy film about Ryo Saeba (Ryohei Suzuki), a merc who really loves his women while taking out crime in Shinjuku, Japan. Sometimes his behaviour gets in the way of getting the job done, and this is something Hideyuki Makimura (Masanobu Andô) dislikes. And despite warning him to not put his moves on his sister, that’s because he’s knows what his partner can do, and is overprotective. And when he dies in the line of duty, he hopes this sweeper will do the right thing and be more like a brother to her.
The anime was really popular in the 90s, and many of the episodes were based on the manga published the decade prior. In today’s woke culture, his actions would not be tolerated and despite this character’s low-brow behaviour, the love for this franchise over the years remained strong. As a result, a fair number of reboots and reinterpretations look at other aspects of Ryo’s career.
That includes the 1993 Chinese film with Jackie Chan as City Hunter. That was never a good take because in a comedic moment, to see this actor as Chun-Li doesn’t age well. And the South Korean television show from 2011 dispenses with his playboy attitude and gets very Die Hard. It won many awards when it first debuted and I was hooked!
In this latest release, the cartoon humour is toned down, and about the 100ton hammer—aside from the fact Saeba is investigating the mysterious death of a cosplay celebrity which includes attending a fandom convention, that’s about all I say. He believes both cases might be connected to the same person who ordered the assassination of his brother in arms. This retelling of the series origin story has a lot more detail, and it’s not simply about protecting Kaori (Misato Morita) from the mob.
Also, the attraction she and Ryo have is reminiscent of how the 80s TV show, Moonlighting, developed Maddie and Davie to finally admit they have feelings for each other. The way they constantly argue felt familiar. And in order for them to find the murderer, they’ll have to stop bickering long enough to make progress.
All they know is that there’s a secret organisation out to harm innocent victims with a new drug they’ve invented. It gives them momentary super strength before dying. The action set pieces don’t get too crazy, and for the moments where we see Ryo’s skill with a gun, it’s very stylized to show how expert of a marksman he is. He can take out a lot of enemies Jackie-Chan style, and I’m sure he’d give Hawkeye from the MCU a run for his money too!
Overall, the zaniness and action that defines this franchise is quite faithful to everything I enjoyed from the anime. And one film is not enough! This modern day take is merely a setup for what’s to come, and there really needs to be another tale to show how Ryo and Kaori manage their relationship. I’m very amused at how Saeba remains addicted to love, although Kaori is determined to change his ways! That’s what kept the anime going and why I often think of Robert Palmer’s songs every time I watch the series. Although this live-action take isn’t as hyperactive, it will be better remembered than other takes.
4 Stars out of 5
Netflix’s City Hunter Trailer
