A seasoned inspector and a Scotland Yard investigator must team up to track down a stolen microfilm before it’s recovered by a triad crime boss in the fun, humorous and downright enjoyable female buddy cop actioner, Yes, Madam.
While it did fairly well at the box office in Hong Kong, and martial arts fans have been in love with it for years, Yes, Madam has lingered in obscurity for more international viewers beyond those who are aware of it. While many are calling for a rerelease, it’s unfortunate that I hadn’t heard of it until only recently despite considering myself a film buff, because it’s quite possibly one of the most entertaining and comedic martial arts films I’ve ever had the joy of watching. It was also the first in a long line of “girls with guns” films, and while many of those productions still skewed into misogyny in those days, it was still a step forward in representing powerful women as leads instead of objectified damsels in distress.
Brought to life through the lens of the fabulous Corey Yuen, who would go on to choreograph Hollywood productions like Legal Weapon 4, The Expendables, and several Jet Li productions, and who directed even more films like The Transporter and My Father is a Hero, it’s hard to understand how such a great film could’ve gone unnoticed for so long outside of natural arts fans, and I sincerely hope it gains more recognition soon. Yes, Madam is a perfect example of how even humble beginnings can be fantastic projects, and Yuen deserved much more recognition than he got before his untimely death in 2022. Still, his back catalogue is fantastic, and Yes, Madam is a highlight amongst them all. His work behind the camera brings the story to life in a way that’s both unique and stylized, and it’s no wonder this film helped to launch an entire subgenre of martial arts and action movies. His mastery of shooting fight sequences to be both intense and dizzyingly amusing is fully on display in Yes, Madam, and getting to see our two leads in a center stage that fully utilizes their talents is a truly enjoyable feat of filmmaking.
Featuring a baby-faced Michelle Yeoh in the infancy of her long lasting and stellar career, and long before she took home an Oscar for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, her first starring role was a real treat in Yes, Madam. It’s amazing and fun and immensely enjoyable, and that’s without even mentioning that she stars alongside the criminally underrated and truly fabulous Cynthia Rothrock. The entire cast manages to take the plot just seriously enough to make it even more humorous, with perfectly overdone performances that highlight just how absurdly comedic everything in this film is, while never leaning too hard into attempts at being funny to make it annoying. You can tell everyone on set was having a blast, and that translates into a really enjoyable viewing experience. And as much as Yeoh steals the show in anything where she shows her face, it’s hard to ignore just how wonderful Rothrock is. It’s my hope that she somehow finds a bit of late career success, perhaps through an existing franchise spinoff like John Wick. We need more middle aged badass female protagonists in film. Make it happen, Hollywood!
Needless to say, the choreography from Mang Hoi is on point, orchestrated to the point that every flight feels just as much comedic as some of the punchlines, while also showcasing the incredible talents of our two leading ladies. Not to mention Bill Wong Chung-piu’s cinematography that helps to paint a realistic portrait of 1980s Hong Kong. In fact, the movie is so very 80s, it’s like a time capsule in its own right, and it’s a delight for the eyes and ears.
Blending action, martial arts and comedy together into an entertaining and female powered buddy cop film wasn’t an easy accomplishment, especially in Hong Kong in the 80s, but I’ll be damned if Yes, Madam doesn’t manage to pull it off with grace and a whole lot of laughs. Check it out yesterday. You’ll love it, I’m sure.
