Remembering Corey Yuen #4 – In the Blood 神探父子兵 (1988) Review

Of all the movies that Corey Yuen directed in the ’80s, In the Blood remains his lesser-known movie of that era. A crime drama starring Andy Lau, the very year in 1988 when he appeared in hit comedies like The Crazy Comedies and starred in Wong Kar-Wai’s stylish directorial debut in As Tears Go By.

In the Blood, however, is one of his equally lesser-known works playing a CID inspector Wah, whose father played by Bill Tung is a reputable commissioner of the aforementioned division. The story also focuses on Dan (Corey Yuen), again portraying the same but different incompetent cop and even has Wu Ma as the police father Uncle Ma, where they were last seen playing similar roles in Righting Wrongs.

When Dan finally gets promoted to join CID, he is assigned to be part of the team to raid a drug operation led by the division’s superintendent (Lee Scott) and Wah. But the operation doesn’t go as well as planned after the drug dealer, Fei Ying (Chin Siu-Ho) manages to escape while Dan unintentionally embarrasses the superintendent.

Meanwhile, Fei Ying’s girlfriend, Tze (Hsiao Hung-Mei) turns out to be the rebellious daughter of Auntie King (Hu Chin), who manages a bar. And coincidentally, Auntie King and Uncle Ma have known each other for a long time.

Working from Yuen Kai-Chi’s screenplay, Yuen focuses more on comedy and drama with the former can be seen during the bickering moment between Dan and Uncle Ma who disagree with each other over a parking ticket (Richard Ng, in a cameo appearance as the owner of the car). The dramatic side of the movie alternates between Wah’s dedication as the CID in charge of the case to catch Fei Ying while frequently trying his best to look after the accident-prone Dan, and Dan’s determination to prove to his father that he can be a successful cop.

The movie can be a turn-off for viewers looking for action-packed results seen in Yuen’s earlier police-themed works in Yes, Madam! and Righting Wrongs. While I admit the story tends to wander around in circles while lacking the necessary forward momentum in its narrative arc, the movie is far from a tedious slog. Yuen’s mix of comedy and drama at least doesn’t veer off course between overly goofy and downright histrionics.

It also helps that the acting here is decent enough, beginning with Andy Lau’s no-nonsense turn as Wah. But what surprises me the most is Yuen, who cast himself in a bigger role this time around as Dan. It’s easy to forget that he started as an actor and even though he lacks screen charisma, he fits the role of a clumsy cop often getting himself into trouble. The movie also benefits from equally sufficient supporting roles played by screen veterans Bill Tung and Wu Ma (the latter also served as the producer) while Chin Siu-Ho made quite an impression as the sneaky drug dealer, Fei Ying. Do look out for cameos played by Anthony Chan Yau and Alfred Cheung playing the nervous wannabe thieves.

Despite the heavy elements of comedy and drama, Yuen doesn’t forget he’s making a cop movie. With Mang Hoi alongside Chin Ka-Lok and Yuen Wah in charge of the martial arts direction, the action may have been far from the best you have seen in a Corey Yuen movie. But it does have its fair share of moments with some gritty action and stunt sequences, notably during the second half of the movie.

In the Blood marks the last movie Corey Yuen directed in the ’80s era. He would return — with a vengeance, that is — in She Shoots Straight two years later in 1990.