Okay, rewind your minds back to the mid-90s. The video store shelves were groaning under the weight of action flicks, but every so often, you’d stumble across a Hong Kong import that just hit differently. Tucked away, maybe with a slightly generic Western title slapped on it, was a film that promised blistering martial arts and maybe, just maybe, something more. That's exactly the feeling I get popping in the tape for 1995's The Enforcer – or as many know it by its original, more evocative title, My Father is a Hero. And let me tell you, this one absolutely delivers the goods.
### Mainland Muscle Meets Hong Kong Grit
Forget slick Hollywood gloss for a moment. This is pure, uncut Hong Kong action filmmaking, courtesy of the legendary action director and choreographer Corey Yuen. If that name sounds familiar, it should – besides directing this gem, Yuen was a key figure in the HK action scene and later brought his kinetic style to Western audiences with films like The Transporter (2002). Here, he teams up Jet Li, arguably at the peak of his physical prowess, with the incomparable Cantopop queen and actress Anita Mui, and the result is electric.
The premise is classic undercover cop territory: Jet Li plays Kung Wei, a police officer from Mainland China deep undercover within a ruthless Hong Kong crime syndicate led by the menacing Po Kwong (played with chilling effectiveness by Yu Rongguang). The twist? Wei’s ailing wife and young son, Ku Kung (or Johnny in some versions), travel to Hong Kong searching for him, completely unaware of his dangerous double life. This setup immediately injects a layer of potent family drama and vulnerability rarely seen in your typical Western action hero narrative of the time.
### The Symphony of Destruction
Let's talk action, because that's the main event. Corey Yuen orchestrates sequences that are both breathtakingly inventive and bone-crunchingly intense. This isn't the shaky-cam confusion that would plague action cinema later; it’s intricately choreographed chaos captured with clarity. Remember those fights where you could actually see the intricate Wushu movements Jet Li executes? That's what you get here. The practical stunt work is phenomenal. We're talking guys flying through the air on wires (a Hong Kong staple!), real explosions, and fight scenes that feel dangerously close to the edge.
One detail often missed is how these HK productions worked on comparatively smaller budgets than their Hollywood counterparts. This often forced incredible creativity – they couldn't just blow up ten city blocks digitally. Instead, they relied on sheer human skill and nerve. Watching Jet Li use everything from belts to batons with lightning speed, or seeing Anita Mui's stylish Inspector Fong hold her own, feels incredibly visceral. There’s a raw energy here that CGI, for all its smoothness, often struggles to replicate. Wasn't that final confrontation, with its multi-level mayhem, just jaw-dropping back then?
### More Than Just Fists and Fury
What truly elevates The Enforcer beyond just another actioner is the heart at its core. Jet Li, often known for his stoic screen presence, taps into a powerful paternal desperation. His interactions with his son, played by the astonishingly talented Xie Miao (sometimes credited as Tze Miu), are the film’s emotional anchor. These two had actually starred together the previous year in The New Legend of Shaolin (1994), and their established chemistry pays off beautifully here. Xie Miao isn't just a cute kid; the boy could move. His own martial arts prowess is showcased brilliantly, making him an active participant in the danger, not just a damsel (or son) in distress.
Anita Mui is simply magnetic as Inspector Fong. She brings elegance, toughness, and a surprising amount of warmth to her role, acting as both an antagonist (initially) and an eventual ally to Wei. Her chemistry with Jet Li is subtle but effective, adding another layer to the proceedings. It’s a reminder of what a charismatic and versatile performer Mui was, tragically lost far too soon. The film deftly balances its high-octane action with moments of genuine pathos – the strain on Wei's family, the impossible choices he faces. It’s a blend that Hong Kong cinema often excelled at, mixing tones in a way that could feel jarring but, when it worked, was incredibly effective.
### A True VHS Gem
Released internationally as The Enforcer (sometimes Jet Li's The Enforcer to capitalize on his growing fame), the film might have had slightly different cuts or dubs depending on where you saw it – a classic quirk of the VHS era for foreign film distribution. While perhaps not reaching the iconic status of Li’s Once Upon a Time in China series, it was a solid hit and remains a fan favorite, especially for those who discovered the thrilling world of Hong Kong action through rentals and late-night TV. It represents that sweet spot in the mid-90s before the handover, when HK cinema was firing on all cylinders, producing films with unparalleled energy and style.
Rating: 8.5/10
Justification: The Enforcer earns this score through its masterful blend of high-impact, expertly choreographed practical action sequences courtesy of Corey Yuen, Jet Li's peak physical performance combined with surprising emotional depth, standout supporting roles from Anita Mui and the remarkable Xie Miao, and that unique Hong Kong flavour mixing grit, style, and heart. While some plot elements might feel familiar, the execution is top-tier for the genre and era.
Final Word: Forget pristine 4K – The Enforcer feels right at home with a bit of tracking fuzz, delivering that potent cocktail of unbelievable stunts and surprisingly affecting family drama that made 90s Hong Kong action imports such addictive viewing. It’s a reminder that real sparks fly when practical effects meet pure physical poetry. Still kicks serious butt today.