Lady Reporter

This butt-kicking martial arts comedy from 1989 was Cynthia Rothrock’s first leading role and also the first time a female martial arts artist from the West had lead billing in a Hong Kong movie! She plays undercover reporter Cindy, who teams up with Elizabeth Lee and is tasked with investigating an unscrupulous newspaper editor – of course, soon a whole string of nasty opponents try their best to get Cindy out the way.

To begin with, we’re in the USA and not in Hong Kong. That’s because this is the place into which counterfeit money pours in from Hong Kong and if proof were needed that lousy dubbing gave martial arts flicks a bad name, then look no further: two (presumably) American guys (who appear to represent the FBI) converse in English, obviously. Only that the English dialogue is dubbed and the lip movements are completely out of sync… some joke?
Anyway, FBI agent Cindy (C. Rothrock) is chosen to fly out to Hong Kong posing as a reporter and to investigate… If there’s one person who is happy to see her and welcomes her it’s her good old friend Judy Yu (Elizabeth Lee). Unfortunately, the Hong Kong police are less welcoming on grounds that they don’t like someone from another country sticking their noses into an investigation which they believe is none of their business. As a sign of appreciation, Cindy’s legal protection is removed but in true reporter fashion, she carries on regardless. The culprit is newspaper editor Ronny Dak (Ronny Yu) and the Feds think that Dak’s newspaper emporium is merely a front for producing counterfeit money.

Soon, Cindy and Judy – but in particular Cindy – learn the hard way that messing with Ronny Dak spells big trouble because he dispatches all sorts of baddies trying to get our feisty undercover reporter out of the way – cue for some serious high octane action courtesy of director Mang Hoi and Corey Yuen Kawai. Btw, Mang Hoi also features in the film as a reporter working for Dak’s newspaper, though Hoi is not a baddie and it’s somewhat confusing deciphering the actual reason as to how he gets involved with Cindy and ultimately helps her.
We get a real cracker when Cindy takes on Billy Chow during a relentless fight sequence taking place on scaffolding erected outside a very tall building, with Rothrock winning the upper hand and it’s easy to see why the film is also known under the title ‘Blonde Fury’!

Even when unpleasant things happen, the comedic aspects are never far behind - for example, when Judy’s father, Prosecutor Yu (Roy Chiao) gets kidnapped and drugged by Ronny Dak’s henchmen. Later on in the courtroom, a hallucinating Mr. Yu talks utter nonsense and is convinced he is the hero of a comic strip series while everyone else in the courtroom are aliens invading earth.
Or Fat Chung in the role of a thief breaking into Judy and Cindy’s place who gets interrupted when Judy spots a rat on the floor. Hiding behind a curtain, Chung soon gets a taste of his own medicine when the unassuming Judy, who thinks the rat is moving behind the curtain, tries to kill it with a carpet beater and other household items until… Oh, I won’t give this one away but it’s sidesplittingly funny and full out gross at the same time!

The climax really rocks and here we see Rothrock taking on mega thugs Jeffrey Falcon and Vincent Lyn in a setting which can best be described as claustrophobic and narrow, wedged in between huge industrial metal containers. Then there’s a no hold barred fight involving a moving truck and poor Judy’s hands chained behind the truck bit while her feet are chained to the trailer bit… and one of the baddies trying his darn best to uncouple the trailer from the truck…

Cynthia Rothrock is in top form and a worthy opponent although occasionally it’s blatantly obvious that wire work has been used, especially during those scenes in which she seems to defy the rules of gravity. She’s also dubbed in Cantonese throughout, which somehow comes over as hilarious to our ears.

Eureka presents LADY REPORTER for the first time on 2K Blu-ray in the UK and as per usual, the first 2000 copies come in a Limited Edition O-card slipcase, collectors booklet and as an added bonus, facsimile lobby cards.
Other Bonus features include audio commentaries, brand new interviews with Rothrock and Mang Hoi, trailers and reversible sleeve.