Bob Strauss May 4, 2021Updated: May 5, 2021, 5:34 pm
Alain Uy plays a divorced dad in the martial arts action comedy “The Paper Tigers.” Photo: Well Go USA
“The Paper Tigers” is a likable example of grit and determination, both onscreen and behind the scenes. Writer-director Tran Quoc Bao said he turned to Kickstarter to help finance his first feature film rather than give in to Hollywood’s suggestions that he cast white actors to play the lead roles he wrote as Asian Americans.
It took nearly a decade, but now Tran’s kung fu comedy/drama is out Friday, May 7, in the way he envisioned it. Any similarities to “Cobra Kai” are superficial.
The wee societal health crisis we had for the last 14 months or so may have forcibly slowed many arts organizations down, in some unfortunate cases killing them off outright. But SF Indiefest has only sped up, the many film/video showcases under its umbrella not just going forward as usual (albeit in online form), but adding additional events, plus one brand-new festival (the just-finished Livable Planet).
This weekend brings yet more where all that came from in the form of
, a second edition of this adjunct to Another Hole in the Head, Indiefest’s usual place for genre-oriented content.
Last year’s first Warped Dimension was billed as the first-ever film festival presented entirely on the Zoom, meaning it was streamed live (rather than its content being available throughout a longer window of time). This three-day sophomore session offers independent horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action-adventure, thrillers, comedy, animation, experimental, music video and documentary titles,
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), and Yuji Okumoto (
Cobra Kai).
The Paper Tigers below:
As teenagers, kung fu disciples Danny (Alain Uy), Hing (Ron Yuan) and Jim (Mykel Shannon Jenkins) were inseparable. Fast forward 25 years, and each has grown into a washed-up middle-aged man seemingly one kick away from pulling a hamstring and not at all preoccupied with thoughts of martial arts or childhood best friends. But when their old master is murdered, the trio reunites, soon learning that avenging their sifu will require conquering old grudges (and a dangerous hitman still armed with ample knee cartilage) if they are to honorably defend his legacy.
The Paper Tigers answers the burning question, What if the Karate Kid got old and out of shape? Well, middle-aged, but definitely rusty as hell.
Three teens receive private kung-fu training from bona fide master Sifu Cheng (Roger Yuan) and become the kings of the local martial-arts scene. On the brink of attaining widespread recognition, something splinters best friends Danny (Alain Uy), Hing (Ron Yuan) and Jim (Mykel Shannon Jenkins), and they part ways for decades. When Cheng is killed, the now-past-it schlubs put their differences aside to solve the crime â only to find that spinning hook kicks ain t so easy when you re 45 and haven t stretched.