Police Story 3: Super Cop (1992)

Super Cop is supposed to refer to Jackie Chan’s character in this movie but could just have easily been referring to Michelle Yeoh’s character.

Jackie Chan’s Chan Ka Kui from the previous Police Story films goes to China and teams up with Michelle Yeoh’s Captain Yang Chien Hua to go undercover and break Yuen Wah’s bad guy out of prison and join his brother’s (Kenneth Tsang) drug gang in order to take out the Big Bad. After being accepted into the gang, they all go to Malaysia and meet up with Lo Lieh’s drug general. Lots of shooting and things blowing up ensue. They also have to bust Tsang’s missus out of jail before she is executed because she’s the only one who knows the number to the Swiss bank account where a fortune in drug money is stashed. Along the way, they run into Chan’s tour guide girlfriend (Maggie Cheung) who blows his cover because she is the dumbest girlfriend in cinema history.

The plot isn’t very strong or consistent. Most people don’t watch Chan’s movies for the plot anyway. The action is slightly different in some places because it relies more on guns and explosions. If you enjoy Chan’s comedy schtick, it’s dialed back here, but should be still enough to satisfy you. As always, the draw to his movies are the insanely dangerous stunts he performs mostly himself. Super Cop is not short on them. The bonus is that Michelle Yeoh performs most of her own death-defying stunts as well.

Chan gave his usual manic performance, though he didn’t mug as hard for the camera in this one. Michelle Yeoh’s gravitas made an excellent foil for him to play against and there was never any question that it was a partnership of equals. The two had good screen chemistry with Yeoh nearly stealing the show. It was hard to watch the talented Maggie Cheung play the jealous dim-witted girlfriend. Yuen Wah and Kenneth Tsang made excellent bad guys. One of my favorite old kung fu stars, Lo Lieh, made a brief appearance as a general supplying the drugs to the different cartels.

I would like to have seen more hand-to-hand combat, but what there was played out well, no surprise with Yeoh and Chan. The stunts were quite good with Jackie dangling from a helicopter over Kuala Lumpur and Michelle Yeoh landing a motorcycle onto a train. Rumor has it that the stuntman who initially attempted it broke his leg trying the stunt. Michelle Yeoh was able to land the scary jump herself.

Fans of Jackie Chan or Michelle Yeoh movies should be satisfied with Super Cop. The two martial arts stars bring enough daring action and excitement to help overlook the flaws in this film.

17 April 2022

edit--I liked this movie better than Police Story 1 which was graded on my pre-1990's curve so I went ahead and bumped this up to an 8 on the curve because the stunts were just as amazing and the cast was stronger. It also didn't have the 30 minute lull in the middle of the film. 25 March 2024

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Yeoh Michelle! Oh, I remember watching this for the first time and being so in love with her. She was one of the first female action stars I was exposed to. What's even better is that they don't try to doll her up, or have a "sexy" moment for her to show off her female assets. (The jumper at the pool is close, but that's just because she has amazing legs.) It was the first time that I had scene the female action hero join the lead and be key in helping him. They both save and help each other and neither is designated the damsel. To this day it's still a rare thing to find.

The stunts are higher octane and even more complicated. As this is Police Story's induction to the 90s I say bravo. I couldn't pick up any computer affects to compensate. Everything is practical and that's what makes the scenes pack more of a punch then even today's modern CGI fights and shaky camera. Just watch the bloopers at the end. Many of them came really close to dying. (I think they guy on the train catching Jackie almost vomited, look at their relief!)

The plot doesn't pack as big of a punch as Police Story 2 for the simple fact that it doesn't develop the characters much. They don't grow, poor May is straight up there to become a damsel and that's sad. At least Yeoh Michelle's character is straight up bad ass! She does her stunts so amazingly! That motor cycle scene is all her! In fact you can see all of her takes and attempts in the end credits. *_* The woman is my idol! I enjoy that the title "Super Cop" is kind of a joke and if this was any other title it would be obnoxious and you'd have some emotionless guy punching through walls.

The sound definitely improved with the time leap between movies. There's a plus!

Did you know that the AMERICAN release actually edited and cut the movie, changing fight sequences!??? It never got an official release in America even though it was Jackie's biggest box office at the time. I firmly believe because it hit so big that movie 4 was what it was. It astonishes me that it was edited so heavily. Even though the USA editing Asian content to fit it's needs (Sailor Moon anyone?) is pretty well known. I couldn't think of why they would cut it. Then again US directors rarely understand the rhythm and importance of the sequences in Jackie's fight scenes.

That aside when people talk about females in action I've always cited Police Story 3. One in which the heroine is in the final battle and is actually key. She doesn't become a damsel. (Yeah, I'll say it as much as I can!) While I am sad about how much May was not utilized and that there really isn't much character growth. It was still great stunts and many directors site this movie as the best stunts ever. Though I notice less comedic stunts and a more serious take. The running jokes with Ka-Kui's (Jackie) superiors is hilarious! Ha-ha. I also liked that Yeoh Michelle's character was mischievous and that Ka-Kui and her play and tease each other like rivals. Not like love interest. Great action movie!

Sidenote: doesn't it make you sad how Yeoh Michelle isn't utilized as an action star?

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