Lawyer by day, vigilante martial artist by night. . . I know, maybe not the most expected combination, but when the courts stop working, sometimes you’ve got to take matters into your own hands. This is the general premise for 1986’s Righting Wrongs (it is also known as Above the Law in some circles), directed by Corey Yuen.
Hsia Ling-Cheng (Biao Yuen) is a by the books prosecutor who is about to have a rough couple of weeks. First, he is on hand to see his beloved mentor and former law school professor gunned down in New Zealand by relentless thugs attempting to keep a certain lawlessness on the streets (quite the opening scene); then, the key witness in his case, along with seven other family members, are assassinated and incinerated by a group of thugs who believe they are above the law.
The so called straw that broke the camel’s back, the legal eagle turns his eye on violent revenge. . . actually guided by the Judge (Roy Chiao) who was presiding over the case (both seeing it as the only way to rid the streets of these devils).
In a criss-crossing narrative, after one of the thugs turns up dead (I wonder who could have done that), Senior Inspector Cindy Si (Cynthia Rothrock) is put in charge of investigating the murder. With a similar streak running through her veins, her policing leans to the ‘Dirty Harry’ style – a near vigilante who is willing to knock some heads together, or as they say, ‘shoot first and ask questions later’, in order to get the job done. Her drive is almost inhuman, an immovable force that is sometimes blinded to what may actually be happening.
Dealing with a bevy of fellow officers, including her rather blunt Superintendent, Wong Jing-Wai (Melvin Wong), as well as an unusual relationship between worrisome father/longtime office Tsai (Wu Ma) and his rather unprofessional son ‘Bad-Egg’ (played by director Corey Yeun) – who has been paired with Cindy as her new partner (even though she’s not one to work in teams), she must attempt to play office politics while trying to get her own way on the case.
Soon, Ling-Cheng is fingered for the murder of the second thug. . . only problem is, he actually didn’t have anything to do with it. Though he was planning on his own form of vengeance, he arrives to find him already dead. . . and with Cindy breathing down his neck – thinking that he must be the illusive murderer. Able to escape, now their paths are forever linked, and he will have a tough time shaking the persistent inspector.
Though the movie is a bit thin on plot, it can never be deemed boring. Packed with more action than you can shake a stick at (or should I say baseball bat), the meandering narrative of street thugs and police corruption is really only the undercurrent to display one impressive action set piece after another. Cars are dodged, glass continuously breaks, ludicrous jumps are made (if you’re watching on a big enough screen, you’ll quite easily notice that it’s a male stunt double performing the feat for Rothrock), and handcuffs are used in ways that you can’t even imagine. . . and this is just a small sampling of some of the outrageous moments seen onscreen. There is also a cool action sequence with a Charlie Chaplin film playing in the background – always nice when one of the original masters of movement is honoured. Like many of these Hong Kong actioners released during this period, there is also quite a bit of comedy interlaced within the script for some needed levity. Just one example being an apple exhaust trick that should harken you back to 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop.
It is also worth clearing up at this point that there are two versions of the film. The original cut, which is four minutes shorter, has a very different ending from what would be released after a test screening brought about prompt re-shoots.
An action packed, entertaining, wild ride of an adventure, Righting Wrongs might not be as buoyant as the original Police Story (which is what some might compare it to), but what is. Though it is weaker when comparing the narrative and Jackie Chan charm factor, it nonetheless shines thanks to its unbelievably well choreographed fight and stunt sequences. So, right a wrong if you haven’t already seen this action crime film, it’s worth taking the plunge.
This film can be watched in Cantonese with English subtitles, or in dubbed English