Perhaps the most unexpected thing about Weekend in Taipei is its humor. I went into the film knowing there would be a lot of action, a sprinkling of romance, and a family plot, but the comedy — sometimes through dialogue and sometimes situational — took me by surprise. Immediately I knew this was a film that wasn’t about to take itself so seriously, and I could get on board with that. Directed by George Huang from a screenplay by him and Luc Besson, Weekend in Taipei isn’t without its faults, but it’s charming, well-shot, thrilling, and, above all, entertaining.
The film obviously targets Western audiences, especially since its primarily Asian cast speaks English to each other for the runtime’s majority despite the film taking place in Taipei. It was a bit off-putting, and as much as I would’ve loved for the characters to speak their native language, it didn’t deter the movie’s excitement. And there’s plenty of that, especially after DEA Agent John Lawlor (Luke Evans) goes rogue after blowing his undercover job, landing in Taipei for the weekend in a bid to finally catch billionaire drug kingpin Kwang (Sung Kang), who’s married to Lawlor’s old love Joey (Lun-Mei Gwei).
Weekend In Taipei Has Thrilling Action & Stakes
The Story Is Also Contained & The Characters Don’t Gallivant Around The World
Weekend in Taipei is a high-octane action film that doesn’t rush through its setup. This is not a case of all action all the time. The characters, while not the most developed, still have some semblance of personality and intriguing backstories. Huang and Besson also make sure the characters all have memorable introductions — from Joey racing through the streets in a sports car to John beating up a bunch of guys after his cover as a chef is blown. They’re painted with the widest brush strokes, but the cast, including Wyatt Yang as Joey’s son Raymond, imbues them with charisma.
These characters could have been anyone and the depth is barely there, but there was some thought and consideration put into their stories and portrayals that I appreciated.
They’re all having fun and it shows. Kang, best known for playing Han in the Fast and Furious movies, is a deliciously annoyed villain; Evans is stoic but understands the importance of comedic timing; and Lun-Mei is protective yet fierce as a stunt driver. Their interactions are some of the film’s best moments and the script plays around with entertaining flashbacks that give us insight about the situation from different perspectives. These characters could have been anyone and the depth is barely there, but there was some thought and consideration put into their stories and portrayals that I appreciated.
The characters stand out not only because of the cast’s efforts, but because the film and story are contained, as none of the characters go country hopping just for the sake of it. It keeps the narrative focused and personal. The action is slick and precise. The thrills vary, coming in the form of hand-to-hand combat and car chases on winding roads. The way they’re shot is particularly excellent — they’re well-lit and the stunt choreography is fantastic. The film doesn’t cut away from the action, either, which shows a confidence that other genre films don’t always have.
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There’s an exhilaration that permeates Weekend in Taipei. Huang and Besson certainly don’t take the lazy road, amplifying the film’s action by ensuring the personal stakes are there and that we care about the characters. I wanted Joey and John to best Kwang if only so they could finally be together after more than a decade apart. If Huang’s film hadn’t bothered setting up and exploring aspects of that story, the action would have fallen entirely flat. We have to root for someone and the action thriller allows us to do that without forcing it.
Some Of Weekend In Taipei’s Moments Can Be Cheesy
But The Film Knows Exactly What It’s Trying To Be
To be sure, Weekend in Taipei is a corny action flick. The dialogue isn’t the snappiest, but it’s delivered with gusto that I didn’t even mind it for the most part. The romantic moments between John and Joey work primarily because the movie doesn’t linger on them; if it had, the lack of romantic chemistry between them would’ve been more obvious. When the characters are more playful, their attraction to each other works, but it takes a moment to get to that point of full believability between them.
The film’s lesser qualities occasionally bubble to the surface, including some of the supporting actors’ line deliveries, but the film is so energetic and confident in what it’s trying to be that it’s barely distracting. The pacing is swift and the surprising amount of humor is refreshing. Weekend in Taipei knows how to keep things exciting and, though it doesn’t wow us with any profound character depth, the storyline is straightforward and fun, and the characters aren’t so paper-thin that it’s bothersome. With a game cast and thrilling action sequences, Huang’s film offers more than expected to keep us engaged.
Weekend in Taipei is in theaters on November 8. The film is 100 minutes long and rated R for violence.
6/10
Weekend In Taipei, directed by George Huang, follows a former DEA agent and a former undercover operative as they rekindle their romance over a fateful weekend in Taipei, oblivious to the dangerous repercussions stemming from their tumultuous past.
- The action is exciting and there are stakes
- The film is fun and filled with equal amounts of thrills and humor
- The actors rise to the occasion, bringing charisma to their characters
- The film can be cheesy at times
- The chemistry between John and Joey isn’t amazing