The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 isn’t a sequel bigger on action. Rather they decided to make the sequel with more comedy than the sharp kinetic action of the first. Unfortunately, much of the comedy is cringe-inducing moments that don’t feel like they were even funny back in the 1980s. Though when the action does start (it just takes 60 of its 90 minutes to do so) The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 does elevate itself.
After the events of the first film, the SKIRT unit has been praised and lauded with medals. What’s their reaction – pure ego trips, well at least Amy (Sandra Ng). Though nothing has changed between SKIRT and their male counterparts – thinking they’re not good enough to be police officers. Adding drama into the mix are new recruits (including a before she was a star Amy Yip) that the veteran SKIRT officers decide to bully. This all culminates in another mission where the SKIRT unit proves themselves to be as capable if not more so than the men.
The formula (like its American counterpart Police Academy) is still intact with the mixture of cringe-inducing comedic bits, sexist remarks by the men, the women being boy crazy, the men being girl crazy, a judo competition, and everything else in between. The film feels all-around a lesser entry than the first. The drive of the female characters to outdo their male counterparts in their work is all but gone. It’s replaced with this jocular attitude that they’d rather screw around just like the men than be better. It sets up some truly strange “comedy” bits that land flat.
The film does get some life during the judo competition and the finale when the men and women are arguing or bullying one another. However, it feels like more of an excuse for the seldom-used (in this film at least) Jackie Chan stunt team to take their pent-up energy and use it on screen. The work here though there is much less of it, the work is more than made up for in its quality.
Though it more than makes up for its shortcomings in the final thirty minutes, The Inspector Wears Skirt 2, suffers from the worst thing that a sequel can. Shifting focus away from what makes the original so endearing in the first place – the action, and the female characters’ plucky drive to show they can do it better than the men.
The Transfer
The all-new 2K Restoration in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio from the original negatives – like the original’s 88 Films Blu-ray release – is a stunner. The work done here is simply jaw-dropping. The film literally looks like it was filmed yesterday. The transfer is sharp, and clean without any hints of scratches or blemishes on the negative. The color reproduction and contrast levels are as good as Blu-ray can possibly be in standard dynamic range (e.g., as good as you can get without being 4K). I never tire of saying that 88 Films has got another winner on their hands with this excellent transfer.
The Extras
They include the following;
NEW Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng
NEW Leading the Top Squad – An Interview with Director Wellson Chin
NEW An Interview With Stuntman Go Shut Fung
NEW An Interview with Stuntman Mars
Hong Kong Trailer
Stills Gallery
The all-new Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng begins with his credentials and discussion about the titles. Some of the details include the releases and the massive box office success of the film – bigger than the original box office take of the film; the level of involvement by Jackie Chan – including lack of a cameo (and a strange appearance in the poster); the increased role of Sandra Ng – her popularity sky-rocketed; the increased comedy and lack of action until the finale; the returning and not-returning cast – including a discussion of reason why Cynthia Rothrock did not appear; the appearance of Amy Yip as a new cast member – including a discussion of her role in the film; a discussion of the reason this film was focused on comedy over action; a discussion of Stanley Fong’s thought on this film series and the comedies he did of the era; the new dance sequence in the film – and how it did not top the original’s number; the new dojo/competition scene; a discussion of who did and did not dub their own voices; discussions throughout about the various cultural touchstones, slang, and other pieces that maybe loss on non-HK or Chinese audiences; a larger discussion of the comedic moments – and how the film based jokes around bullying the new ladies but no justification for it; larger discussions throughout of the various locations and areas used during the production; discussion throughout the commentary track about the various actors and their work here and throughout their career – keep your notes app open you’ll want to write some of the films down because Frank goes fast with the various titles the different actors had been in and were famous; and much more. Djeng delivers another well-researched and informative commentary track that’s the perfect companion piece to his track from the original.
Leading the Top Squad – An Interview with Director Wellson Chin (12:33) – in this archival interview Wellson Chin picks up where his original interview from the first film’s disc special features left off discussing the sequel. Some of the details include his thoughts about whether the sequel was too rushed into production; their plans in place during the production of the first they had sequel ideas for 2 and 3; the English language actors that appear in the film; the reason the film was focused on comedy; the reason Jackie Chan did not produce the 3rd entry in the series; the lower budget of the sequels and how he approached difficulties producing great features; and much more. In Cantonese with English Subtitles.
Stuntman Mars discusses The Inspector Wears Skirt 2 (6:45) – in this all-new interview with the legendary stuntman, he discusses how he got involved with the series. Some of the other details include working with Wellson Chin; how stunt work and action choreography worked in the series as opposed to current filmmaking; the injuries incurred by the stunt team during the entire series and why it happened; and more. In Cantonese with English Subtitles.
An Interview with Stuntman Go Shut Fung / Anthony Carpio (28:06) – in this archival interview with the stuntman from the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. Some of the details include how he met and began to work with director Wellson Chin; working with Cynthia Rothrock on the first film; working on the flaming obstacle in the first film and just how dangerous it was; his friendships with Stanley Fung and Alex To that began with Skirts 2; working with Sibelle Hu who was not a trained initially for action and working with her as she became an action star; working with Sandra Ng both on and off screen; and much more. Note Carpio has the first two films on LASERDISC in the foreground as he does his interview – quite a cool addition. In Cantonese with English Subtitles.
Hong Kong Trailer (3:38) – in Mandarin with English Subtitles.
Stills Gallery (3:39) – this still gallery consists of 44 production stills, poster art, and lobby cards. The score by Noel Quinlan plays throughout.
The Final Thought
88 Films continues to bring the best picture, sound, and special features to all of their Asian Genre releases. The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 is no exception. Recommended!!!
The SKIRT team is back to show the boys from SWAT how to do it right in The Inspector Wears Skirts 2. New to Blu-ray from 88 Films jam-packed with special features!
The Film
The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 isn’t a sequel bigger on action. Rather they decided to make the sequel with more comedy than the sharp kinetic action of the first. Unfortunately, much of the comedy is cringe-inducing moments that don’t feel like they were even funny back in the 1980s. Though when the action does start (it just takes 60 of its 90 minutes to do so) The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 does elevate itself.
After the events of the first film, the SKIRT unit has been praised and lauded with medals. What’s their reaction – pure ego trips, well at least Amy (Sandra Ng). Though nothing has changed between SKIRT and their male counterparts – thinking they’re not good enough to be police officers. Adding drama into the mix are new recruits (including a before she was a star Amy Yip) that the veteran SKIRT officers decide to bully. This all culminates in another mission where the SKIRT unit proves themselves to be as capable if not more so than the men.
The formula (like its American counterpart Police Academy) is still intact with the mixture of cringe-inducing comedic bits, sexist remarks by the men, the women being boy crazy, the men being girl crazy, a judo competition, and everything else in between. The film feels all-around a lesser entry than the first. The drive of the female characters to outdo their male counterparts in their work is all but gone. It’s replaced with this jocular attitude that they’d rather screw around just like the men than be better. It sets up some truly strange “comedy” bits that land flat.
The film does get some life during the judo competition and the finale when the men and women are arguing or bullying one another. However, it feels like more of an excuse for the seldom-used (in this film at least) Jackie Chan stunt team to take their pent-up energy and use it on screen. The work here though there is much less of it, the work is more than made up for in its quality.
Though it more than makes up for its shortcomings in the final thirty minutes, The Inspector Wears Skirt 2, suffers from the worst thing that a sequel can. Shifting focus away from what makes the original so endearing in the first place – the action, and the female characters’ plucky drive to show they can do it better than the men.
The Transfer
The all-new 2K Restoration in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio from the original negatives – like the original’s 88 Films Blu-ray release – is a stunner. The work done here is simply jaw-dropping. The film literally looks like it was filmed yesterday. The transfer is sharp, and clean without any hints of scratches or blemishes on the negative. The color reproduction and contrast levels are as good as Blu-ray can possibly be in standard dynamic range (e.g., as good as you can get without being 4K). I never tire of saying that 88 Films has got another winner on their hands with this excellent transfer.
The Extras
They include the following;
The all-new Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng begins with his credentials and discussion about the titles. Some of the details include the releases and the massive box office success of the film – bigger than the original box office take of the film; the level of involvement by Jackie Chan – including lack of a cameo (and a strange appearance in the poster); the increased role of Sandra Ng – her popularity sky-rocketed; the increased comedy and lack of action until the finale; the returning and not-returning cast – including a discussion of reason why Cynthia Rothrock did not appear; the appearance of Amy Yip as a new cast member – including a discussion of her role in the film; a discussion of the reason this film was focused on comedy over action; a discussion of Stanley Fong’s thought on this film series and the comedies he did of the era; the new dance sequence in the film – and how it did not top the original’s number; the new dojo/competition scene; a discussion of who did and did not dub their own voices; discussions throughout about the various cultural touchstones, slang, and other pieces that maybe loss on non-HK or Chinese audiences; a larger discussion of the comedic moments – and how the film based jokes around bullying the new ladies but no justification for it; larger discussions throughout of the various locations and areas used during the production; discussion throughout the commentary track about the various actors and their work here and throughout their career – keep your notes app open you’ll want to write some of the films down because Frank goes fast with the various titles the different actors had been in and were famous; and much more. Djeng delivers another well-researched and informative commentary track that’s the perfect companion piece to his track from the original.
Leading the Top Squad – An Interview with Director Wellson Chin (12:33) – in this archival interview Wellson Chin picks up where his original interview from the first film’s disc special features left off discussing the sequel. Some of the details include his thoughts about whether the sequel was too rushed into production; their plans in place during the production of the first they had sequel ideas for 2 and 3; the English language actors that appear in the film; the reason the film was focused on comedy; the reason Jackie Chan did not produce the 3rd entry in the series; the lower budget of the sequels and how he approached difficulties producing great features; and much more. In Cantonese with English Subtitles.
Stuntman Mars discusses The Inspector Wears Skirt 2 (6:45) – in this all-new interview with the legendary stuntman, he discusses how he got involved with the series. Some of the other details include working with Wellson Chin; how stunt work and action choreography worked in the series as opposed to current filmmaking; the injuries incurred by the stunt team during the entire series and why it happened; and more. In Cantonese with English Subtitles.
An Interview with Stuntman Go Shut Fung / Anthony Carpio (28:06) – in this archival interview with the stuntman from the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. Some of the details include how he met and began to work with director Wellson Chin; working with Cynthia Rothrock on the first film; working on the flaming obstacle in the first film and just how dangerous it was; his friendships with Stanley Fung and Alex To that began with Skirts 2; working with Sibelle Hu who was not a trained initially for action and working with her as she became an action star; working with Sandra Ng both on and off screen; and much more. Note Carpio has the first two films on LASERDISC in the foreground as he does his interview – quite a cool addition. In Cantonese with English Subtitles.
Hong Kong Trailer (3:38) – in Mandarin with English Subtitles.
Stills Gallery (3:39) – this still gallery consists of 44 production stills, poster art, and lobby cards. The score by Noel Quinlan plays throughout.
The Final Thought
88 Films continues to bring the best picture, sound, and special features to all of their Asian Genre releases. The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 is no exception. Recommended!!!
88 Films Blu-Ray edition of The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 is out now.
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