Gung Ho - A Movie Review

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"Gung Ho" is a comedy released in 1986. The screenplay was written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel and directed by Ron Howard. The movie was received with mixed to negative reviews. Box office receipts were $36.6 million with a budget of $13 million. CAST Michael Keaton - Hunt Stevenson Gedde Watanabe - Takahara "Kaz" Kazuhiro George Wendt - Buster John Turturro - Willie Mimi Rogers - Audrey So Yamamura - Mr. Sakamoto Sab Shimono - Saito Rick Overton - Googie Clint Howard - Paul Jihmi Kennedy - Junior Michelle Johnson -Heather DiStefano Rodney Kagayama - Ito Rance Howard - Mayor Conrad Zwart Hadleyville is a fictitious town in Pennsylvania. It's been economically depressed since the auto plant closed 9 months ago. Former foreman Hunt Stevenson is picked to go to Tokyo to convince Assan Motors to re-open the plant. When Hunt reaches Assan Motors he accidentally goes into a room where men are down on the floor yelling and wearing ribbons. Hunt finds out that these are all management men that failed; and they are wearing ribbons of shame. He finally reaches the conference room. Hunt makes his presentation and receives no response from the men sitting around the table. He finally tells them that they probably have "a lot of staring to do"; so he leaves and heads back to Hadleyville. Despondent, Hunt feels that he blew the presentation; so he's totally blown away when he finds out that he "did it"; and that the Japanese are coming to Hadleyville to re-open the plant. There's no doubt that Keaton and Watanabe are excellent comedic actors. This movie may get a little silly at times; but I don't mind the silliness. Is it predictable? Yes. Does that make the movie a total wash-out? No. This movie may or may not be your cup of tea; but I found it to be funny and heart-warming, especially when the workers come together as a team. One reviewer didn't like this movie and called some of the scenes "slack-jawed and sophomoric". Honestly folks, the movie isn't that bad! I give it a "thumbs up". I suggest you watch it and form your own opinion. This movie is rated PG-13.