August 21, 2007
American Fusion
SFist Wendy's back at the theater!
Even though there's no film fests in town, we stopped by the movie theater and checked out American Fusion, which opened this past weekend at the Sundance Kabuki. This film totally reminded us of a Jimmy Kimmel Patton Oswald joke we heard a few years ago that references the breaks one gets upon growing older.
Well, the wickedly funny Taiwanese grandmother, played by Lan Yeung, was not 100 (which according to Oswald, entitles one to kill anyone with their bare hands if possible), but close enough. She had us doubled over many many times throughout this film with her irreverent (and very unabashed) cultural stereotyping. If you’ve ever had a grandparent or elderly relative who resorts to blackmailing you into compliance with their not-so-subtle threats that they’re gonna kick the bucket any day now - or if you’ve ever had to witness their inappropriate ethnic comments (to put it nicely) in public -- then you know exactly what we’re talking about.
It’s not just about Grandma, though. American Fusion is an in your face portrait of intergenerational family conflict that almost anyone can relate to in part (and some probably all too well). It features former NYPD Blue hottie Esai Morales (what’s the latest on his legal woes?!), aka Dr. Martinez, the Mexican dentist who steps directly into granny’s path when he makes a move on her middle-age daughter, Yvonne (Sylvia Chang). There are plenty of cameos in the film, including one by Pat Morita (R.I.P.), the beloved Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid.
American Fusion continues at the Sundance Kabuki, and opens this Friday at the Oaks Theatre in Berkeley.
p.s. Any word on when the new Sundance café (that replaced Pasta Pomodoro) next to the theater is gonna get its liquor license? It’s about time!
SFist Wendy, contributing.
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It's Patton Oswalt, not Jimmy Kimmel, who suggested that anyone over 100 should be allowed to kill anyone else with their bare hands.
Saw this at the Asian American Film Fest and loved it.
By the way, I tried that Sundance Cafe restaurant the other day and it was horrible. Horrible!
#1 is right. The bit's on Feelin' Kinda Patton, which was 04, so maybe you heard Patton on Jimmy?
Hey guys! I just checked with Wendy and she says you guys are right, it is Patton Oswald's joke. Correction forthcoming!
I totally miss the J-town Pasta P. That Sundance Cafe really is not the same.
Great that SOMEONE is commenting on the film. I'm shocked at the lack of publicity this film is getting. I don't know if that is the fault of the marketing team for the film or what.
I saw the film originally in the Asian American Film Festival back 2006 and loved it. I took a friend and saw the film in Concord this past weekend (with barely 10 other souls) watching and she liked it too.
Let's get the word on this film. It deserves to be seen by more people and make some money.
BTW Guys - The movie had a poor showing over the weekend ($16000 over 14 theaters according to the Web). Looks like the film is already off the slate for many of the theaters...including Oaks in Berkeley.
It's a shame - I think this money could have been a pretty good sleeper hit if it was marketed right.