Tango in Tokyo: Examining the Cinema of Tango & Cash and Showdown in Little Tokyo

Yipee-Ki-Yay Mr Falcon

They're both ridiculous buddy cop team-up movies from the 1980s and 1990s, but of very different star caliber and budget. Tango & Cash (1989) saw Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell join forces as two LAPD super cops who are framed by Jack Palance's crime boss, who has a weird thing for mice and CCTV monitors. Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) sees post-Rocky IV Dolph Lundgren team up with Brandon Lee in one of his first film roles as two...cops who, uh, well, there's a story we're pretty sure. And it follows a lot of same beats thumped by Ray Tango and Gabriel Cash. Prepare to dive into the cinematic complexities of two of the goofiest action (comedies??) to come out of the '80s.