This boisterous crime-cop dramedy is written and produced by Luc Besson and stars Jean Reno. Like THE PROFESSIONAL (the 1994 Besson-Reno film), it is the story of a man with a grim, lonely life and a penchant for violence who finds redemption in a needy, spirited young girl who forces him to have heart and save her from an ugly group of thugs. This time around Reno plays Hubert, a Parisian cop who is handed a forced sabbatical when he accidentally beats up the chief's son. Simultaneously Hubert learns that his one true love Miko has died, leaving him her inheritance. He quickly travels to Tokyo to sign the papers, and learns that he has inherited Yumi (Ryoko Hirosue), his exuberant 19-year-old daughter, who is perpetually shopping, dancing, and laughing. Unfortunately, Yumi is being trailed by a tough bunch of Japanese mobsters who want access to her sizeable bank account. With the help of Maurice (Michel Muller) and an immense cache of weapons--grenades, rocket launchers, giant pistols, and golf clubs--Hubert uses some fancy footwork to bring Yumi to safety. Directed by Gerard Krawczyk with a thumping musical score from Eric Serra, WASABI is a bright, loud, fast-moving film.

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