Taipei Drift

I got Weekend in Taipei (2024) for one reason only: Sung Kang. He's been Ms. Spenser's fave since Tokyo Drift. She was quite annoyed at how quickly he died in Ninja Assassin. But this is mostly a Luke Evans movie - or Gwei Lun-mei.

It starts with Taiwanese oligarh Sung Kang coming out of a hearing, where he is being investigated for fishing crimes. He needs to find out who the leak is. Then we meet Gwei in a little black dress and pearls, window shopping in Taipei with a cup of coffee. If you didn't get Breakfast at Tiffany's, Moon River starts up on the soundtrack. But she isn't looking for jewels, but cars. 

Since she is Sung Kang's wife, the salesman lets her test drive some super car - and she takes off like she was in Fast and Furious - Taipei Drift. Turns out she is an expert driver, which will come up later.

Her and Kang have a rough relation. They try to stay pleasant, but it's pretty brittle. It turns out that she brought a son into the marriage, and it looks like she's keeping Kang happy for his protection. 

Finally, we meet Luke Evans. He is an American DEA agent who has been getting leaks about Kang's fishing operations, when he wants to know about his drug business. He asks his boss, Pernell Walker, to be allowed to follow up, but she denies him, saying, "Remember what happened last time you went to Taipei." She also puts him on leave, so he takes off for Taipei.

I don't think I need to tell you that Evans and Gwei have a history, and that the kid is his son - and also the one who is leaking Kang's business. Also, Gwei was a driver for young Kang's dope running, while Evans was undercover. I'll let you figure out how it ends (unrealistically). 

But I have to say, we enjoyed this. It wasn't Kang's best role - he's sort of high-strung and sweaty here, when he works best as laid back. Gwei isn't exactly gorgeous, but she works as a tough, sexy driver. And I liked Evans in his role. He's getting older and craggier. He hasn't reached, say, John Bernthal levels, and his nose still hasn't been broken, but he looks like a brawler who's seen some stuff.

In a lot of ways, just your average action film with Luc Besson co-writing, along with director George Huang (Machete). But more than fun enough for us.