In Jackie Chan‘s “Police Story” film series, Stanley Tong took over the helm as director from Chan in “Police Story 3: Supercop” (1992). Michelle Yeoh joined the cast as Inspector Yang from China and gave Chan a good run for his money doing her own stunts and fighting. In “Supercop 2”, Yeoh reprises her role as the main lead this time while Chan returns in a cameo as Inspector Chan and in drag.
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Not long after her return to China from her successful mission in Malaysia, some terrorists are holding hostages in a building. The Government promptly sends Inspector Jessica Yang Jian Wa (Michelle Yeoh) to rescue them. With the help of her boyfriend, Vietnam war veteran David Chang Fung (Yu Rong Guang), who now works as a security guard, they have the situation under control. Yang gets a medal of honor for her part while Chang receives nothing. However, the disappointed Chang thinks that they surely deserve more. Believing that he can do much better and get richer elsewhere, he takes off to Hong Kong. Nonetheless, he promises to come back and marry her after he makes his millions.
Fast forward to Hong Kong six months later, deputy Commissioner Uncle Bill (Bill Tung) of the Royal Police, Inspector Martin Lee (Emil Chau) and partner Alan Kwok (Louis Fan Siu Wong) are celebrating Lee’s sister Annie’s 21st birthday. Nearby, a group of heavily-armed men storm the Central Bank division which results in a massive shootout. They even have a sniper on the roof who turns out to be Chang Fung himself to cause more distress for the police.
Believing that the robbers are from China, Uncle Bill quickly asks the mainland police for assistance and sure enough, Inspector Yang soon finds herself on the fast train heading to Hong Kong as an advisor to Inspector Lee and his team. After working with the attractive Yang, Lee starts to fall for her. He also discovers that she is actually a very capable female who can definitely handle herself. As Yang investigates deeper into the robbery case, she discovers that her boyfriend Chang plays a part in it. Nevertheless, she finally comes to learn the truth when they come face to face during the Central Bank heist.
“Supercop 2” or “Project S” is undoubtedly a Michelle Yeoh’s film even though Jackie Chan shows up very briefly as an undercover cop in drag. Also this rather bizarre and cringe-worthy sequence is the film’s only funny moment and has absolutely nothing to do with the storyline. Obviously the filmmakers are cashing in by using his name on the posters to attract more viewers. In fact, the whole production is a departure from Chan’s “Police Story” series and there are hardly any amazing or dangerous stunts on display here. Tong has Instead, bombarded the viewers with plenty of gunfights, explosions and of course some passable martial arts action.
The film looks outdated now especially seeing those baggy shirts, pants and wide-lapelled suits worn by the men. Michelle Yeoh looks pretty cool in a long white coat when she arrives in Hong Kong and no wonder poor Inspector Lee has a crush on her straight away. A farewell gift from Chang, it looks like a cheap lab coat when she first tries it on over her Chinese uniform back in China. But it is during those frantic kung fu fight sequences that she really shines. The opening fight with a terrorist played by Yukari Oshima is worth mentioning. Then there is her climatic clash in the bank vault with a giant henchman who is almost twice her height. Overall, Yeoh’s delivery is graceful, showing strength and agility, even during the emotional moments.
Unfortunately, Yu Rong Guang, who shows a good screen presence, looks rather stiff and underused. Watch out for a young Louis Fan Siu Wong with his pretty boy weakling looks but deep down he is a confident kung fu expert and his fight with Dick Wei is also memorable. In contrast, Inspector Lee, played by Emil Chau, is just a love sick puppy who mobs around awkwardly. Eric Tsang appears briefly as a robber in drag who tries to rob a jewelry shop.
As far as action films go, “Supercop 2” turns out to be rather serious and melodramatic due to the relationship between Inspector Yang and her boyfriend. The action, choreographed by Tong himself is passable but lacks that certain wow factor for a Hong Kong action film. Nonetheless, Yeoh is graceful enough to carry it through and in general all the actors play their parts well. In addition, it has Jackie Chan wearing a red dress and in high heels running around and rolling over cars.
