It’s almost fitting that of George Huang Weekend in Taipei is released almost thirty years after his razor-sharp and ruthless black comedy, Swimming with the sharks. You just have to wonder why it took so long for his son to make another movie. That biting, underhanded comedy still holds up today and shows the talents of a filmmaker who can embed comedy within any genre.
I mention this because Weekend in Taipei is a comedy wrapped in an action movie. This doesn’t mean the film’s tone is uneven or uncertain, far from it. While Huang’s script occasionally slips into a few tropes, like Luc Besson’s mysterious character arc or a Parent trap-like subplot, the experience is refreshing, super cool, funny and ultimately a great ride.
Enter Luke Evans Weekend in Taipei | Image via Ketchup Entertainment
Weekend in Taipei Review and synopsis
The story follows John Lawlor (Luke Evans), a dedicated US drug enforcement agent in Taipei who desperately needs a vacation. Lawlor is currently investigating Kwan (Sung Kang), the leader of a drug cartel who is going through marital problems that make you think that even the rich and infamous live by the same marriage laws and earn bonus points with their wives.
Kwan’s wife, Joey (The Wild Goose Lake Gwei Lun-mei), likes to spend his money without regret. Joey has a teenage son, Raymond (Wyatt Yang), who Kwan hates even more than his mother. So yes, even a drug lord in Taipei has problems like any working class man. However, he is about to discover that things could get even worse.
Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei enter Weekend in Taipei | Image via Ketchup Entertainment
Weekend in Taipei is refreshing and super cool!
That’s because Kwan is about to find out that his brutal stepson sent the DEA evidence from the criminal’s hard drive about killing dolphins. (Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion, after all.) Naturally, when Lawlor comes across this information, he realizes that Joey is the long-lost love of his life. However, when he knew her, she was a simple mercenary from Taipei.
That’s the kind of movie that brought George Huang back to the big screen, his first since 2021’s Clea Duvall dud. How to make a monster. Robert Rodríguez’s longtime collaborator, working on a script he wrote with the French maverick mad filmmaker Luc Bessonthe film is fast paced, comfortable and just wants to entertain.
Enter Luke Evans Weekend in Taipei | Image via Ketchup Entertainment
Is Weekend in Taipei Worth seeing?
In a world of movies trying too hard to be a corporate cookie, this is causing a corporate cookie sale Weekend in Taipei worth viewing. You have your lone wolf heroes (Evans), quirky villains (Kang), strong female characters (Lun-mei), and the classic central Besson themes of transformation in identity. Then wrap that up with Huang’s talent for comic relief, making the picture more than enjoyable.
Let’s make no mistake though: you’re in the stylized action, which can be exciting at times, with a sense of humor that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Yes, the characters are primary. Yes, you’ve seen the plot a thousand times before. And yes, you know where the film is going, which makes the film less exciting than it needs to be.
That makes Weekend in Taipei a genre item, like classic boba tea. Familiar, satisfying, and easy to enjoy, even if you have a few tapioca pearls that may cause a few bumps along the way.
Weekend in Taipei | Image via Ketchup Entertainment
Weekend in Taipei can only be seen in cinemas from November 8.
Weekend in Taipei Review — Luke Evans stars in an exciting action movie!
Robert Rodríguez’s longtime collaborator George Huang directed Weekend in Taipei, which he co-wrote with French maverick filmmaker Luc Besson. The film is fast-paced, confident, often very funny and mainly aims to entertain the audience. Sit back and enjoy a great ride.
