Big Trouble in Little China is an odd duck that blends several different genres together. It may not be for everyone but it’s got a lot of personality and is certainly memorable. It’s got such a unique feel that those who like it are sure to call it a new favorite.
Trucker Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) is accompanying his friend Wang Chi (Dennis Dun) as he travels to the airport to meet his fiancé after years apart. After landing, Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) is immediately kidnapped by a Chinese street gang. When our heroes learn that she is to be wed to an ancient sorcerer named Lo Pan (James Hong), what choice do they have but to infiltrate his lair and rescue her?
As soon as you meet Jack Burton, you know this will be a different kind of movie. Kurt Russell’s performance, his dialogue and his swagger make this protagonist an instant icon. He sticks out even more once we're properly introduced to the story because he doesn’t belong. He’s a no-nonsense meat-and-potatoes kind of guy. What does he know about ancient prophecies, a trio of warriors armed with elemental powers, or magic? It’s like the movie was originally meant to have Wang Chi as its protagonist but Jack stumbled in at the last second and stole the spotlight - which is precisely the appeal. He’s so out of place that everything feels like a surprise. The fact that everyone but him (and the audience) are “in the know” means that sometimes, this movie is just plain weird. There was no buildup to that monster! Where did it come from? Where did it go? If this was “Grave Dangers in the Great Kingdom” with Dennis Dun and Suzee Pai as the main characters, you wouldn’t question it. With Jack? it’s wild stuff.
Everything I’ve told you about this film so far should be a detriment. Instead, it’s a strength because this movie is effortlessly cool. Big Trouble in Little China does its own thing and is having a great time. You get the sense that everyone on set probably didn't understand what this was all building towards but they all got along so well and had such a great time that it didn’t matter. The enthusiasm is infectious. Though best known for his horror and science-fiction films, director John Carpenter’s mark is all over this movie. It's unmistakably his, even if it stands out among everything else he's made.
All that said, I wish I liked this movie more than I did. While it is fun, sometimes it can feel aimless and unpolished. Maybe it has a few too many characters. Jack and Wang Chi are joined by lawyer Gracie Law (Kim Cattral), an old enemy of Lo Pan played by Victor Wong, Wang’s friend Eddie Lee (Donald Li) and Eddie's love interest Margo Litzenberger (Kate Burton). Then there’s this other girl the villains mistake Miao Yin for… but then it turns out she also fulfills the role Lo Pan wants her to in the prophecy… and it gets to be a lot of a lot. It’s clear Jack Burton is not the kind of character that could ever learn any sort of lesson or change. He’s exactly who he needs to be now, and forever. That’s why you like him. Everyone else, however, is in major need of story arcs or character development, particularly in a story like this one that is under constant threat of being overwhelmed by its special effects, creatures and wild developments.
I was hoping a second viewing of Big Trouble in Little China would make me fall in love with it. Looks as though this movie just isn’t my thing. That makes it sound like I don’t like it. I do like it. It’s just that everything I see on screen tells me I should fall head over heels in love and I'm not. A funny thing happened when I did view it, however. Someone else in the room did fall for it completely. Their instant enthusiasm makes me wholeheartedly recommend the picture. I hope it turns out to be your kind of thing. Even it isn’t, there are a lot of laughs, surprises, and memorable moments in Big Trouble in Little China. (April 7, 2022)