The adventures of the Douglas Brothers begin with this first installment of the children’s martial arts film series, which is more known for the actor playing the ninjas’ teacher, the legendary Victor Wong, than anything. However, this is truly a fun film in the vein of anything made for kids.
Every summer, the Douglas Brothers, Samuel (Michael Treanor), Jeffrey (Max Elliott Slade), and Michael (Chad Power), go to stay with their maternal grandfather Mori Tanaka (Victor Wong). Mori is an expert of the martial art of ninjitsu and trains the boys in the necessary skills. This year, the boys have reached their peak and to celebrate, Mori has decided to give the boys nicknames. Because of his strong will, Samuel becomes Rocky. Because of his speed, Jeffrey becomes Colt. Because he tends to eat a lot and his energy “begins and ends” with his tummy, Michael becomes Tum-Tum.
When the boys return home for school, they learn they are wanted by a criminal organization led by Hugo Snyder (Rand Kingsley). Snyder is a former protege of Mori’s who learns that his mentor’s daughter is married to FBI agent Sam Douglas (Alan McRae). Snyder hopes to ensure that with the Douglas kids kidnapped, that he can use them as blackmail to keep his criminal activities intact. When Snyder hires the trio of Fester (Patrick Labyorteaux), Marcus (Race Nelson), and Hammer (D.J. Harder), they unsuccessfully get the kids, who use their ninja skills to subdue the trio of surfer goons. However, when they are ultimately kidnapped, Mori must come to the rescue and take on his former protege.
From director Jon Turtletaub (NATIONAL TREASURE) comes this very Disney-like martial arts action comedy that revolves around the three brothers Rocky, Colt, and Tum Tum. While many may see this as typical kiddie fare, the movie does have a sort of “cult classic” vibe to it. Fans who loved the late Victor Wong in BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) as bus driver Egg Shen will like his humor in the role of ninja master Mori. As for the titular ninjas, real life martial artists were cast, the best and eldest being Michael Treanor as Rocky. Discovered at a karate school, Treanor definitely melds being the big brother role and the best of the trio when it comes to martial arts. As for Max Elliott Slade, he brings cockiness to the role of Colt, always wanting to get into a fight. As for Chad Power’s Tum Tum, he always is hungry yet does help when needed.
Of course, when it comes to this type of film, there has to be bumbling idiots as villains, much in the vein of the HOME ALONE films. Here, the bumbling surfer dudes are Fester, Marcus, and Hammer. They are sent to track down the trio and kidnap them. When the trio break into the ninja’s home, as expected, the story turns nearly into a HOME ALONE-ripoff with gags to make the audience laugh. Of course, it doesn’t last long and goes back to being an action film when Mori must eventually come face-to-face with his one-time student turned crime lord Snyder, played with comical farce by Rand Kingsley, who looks to be quite proficient in martial arts judging from hardly being doubled in his climatic fight scene, thanks to stunt coordinators Rick Avery and Monty Cox.
Raking in nearly $25 million at the box office, which was pretty modest for a film in 1992, a sequel was commissioned. While shot in 1992, 3 NINJAS KNUCKLE UP wasn’t released until 1995, but reunited Treanor, Slade, and Power. By then, a second sequel, 3 NINJAS KICK BACK, in which Slade was the only original Ninja returning, had been released already. In 1998, the final film of the series, 3 NINJAS: HIGH NOON AT MEGA MOUNTAIN, was released with three new actors playing the Ninjas.
Either way, 3 NINJAS has that combination of kiddie fare and decent martial arts action. If you love Victor Wong, definitely see this and check out Michael Treanor. He may no longer act, but this is the chance to see him kick some butt in what could have been a start to a prolific action career had he continued.
by Albert ValentinRelated Topics:
3 Ninjas • action • Genre: Comedy • kids • Michael Treanor • Victor Wong
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