re:mote voices

Title: Gen X Cops II:Metal Mayhem [Tejing Xinrenlei 2]
Cast: Mark Hicks, Paul Rudd, Maggie Q, Johnnie Guy, Dirk Rommeswinkel
Director: Benny Chan

While this sequel from Jackie Chan’s production company is rife with the clichés the genre is prone to, it is also a hell of a lot more fun than many of the other films of a similar nature we would get from Hollywood. The FBI are coming to Hong Kong with a small team, a security detail for the latest robot policing tool from America. Security/police forces from around the world are meeting to show off their latest tools, the main attractions being a variety of robots, especially this American one. Unfortunately one of the main designers of the robot was a young guy from Hong Kong, who was kicked out once he was finished because of his attitude problems. Of course he wants revenge and hacks into the robot systems, hijacking it to his own ends. To make matters worse the FBI agents swan in to Hong Kong, putting the local police’s noses out of joint. Which causes a clash between several young and out of control officers, especially when one of them just happens to be an old friend of the robot designer. Which is the set up for some slap stick scenes from the local cops, as well as clichéd caricature clashes between the local and visiting officers. Which of course is marked by arguments and unwilling alliances between the two groups. Mixed in are a couple of CGI scenes of robotic action and destruction. Of note is the introductory role of Maggie Q, model turned actress, who takes on a lead in the more recent Naked Weapon, which has popped up on DVD.