Gung Ho

Starring: Michael Keaton, Gedde Watanabe, George Wendt, Mimi Rogers, John Turturro
Written by: Edwin Blum, Lowell Ganz
Director: Ron Howard
Year: 1986

Rating: * * *   Stars       +       (Fan Bonus -  )  Total: * * *

Cultures clash in this Ron Howard comedy about a Japanese auto company and their American work force.

A small town outside Pittsburgh, Hadleyville is on its last legs. With the Auto factory closed, and so many employees laid off, it is quickly becoming a ghost town. Hunt Stevenson (Michael Keaton), former foreman, goes to Japan to pitch to Assan Motors to re-open the factory. They agree, and Hadleyville's citizens are back to work. However, all is not well.

First, the union is dissolved, and they return to work at less wages than they were previously receiving. Plus, the Japanese executives who moved to Hadleyville to oversee operations run the factory like a Japanese factory. They don't pay overtime, expect workers to work harder, frown on reading newspapers in the bathroom, and cannot understand workers who come to work late or leave early. The Americans, once welcoming them with open arms, resent their work ethic. They get moved around to different departments a lot, insuring everyone is equally trained and no one is special. They hate working weekends, and to leave early for family emergencies counts against them.They also have no respect for the companies exercise regimen.

Hunt is promoted to employee liaison, and finds himself caught in the middle between his duty and the respect of his friends. He tries to explain American work ethics to his bosses, yet has to meet out rules to his former friends and co-workers. Hunt is sort of an unofficial town hero, milking his high school basketball days well into his 30's. 

Meanwhile the manger Oishi Kazihiro (Gedde Watanabe) is on thin ice with the company, and making this factory productive and profitable is what stands between his success and getting fired. Yet Oishi is at odds with himself and the company as he truly values his employees as people, and empathizes with them. Yet with the owners nephew on staff, he is under constant scrutiny.

In order to save face for all concerned, Hunt makes a deal with Oishi to make 15,000 cars in one month, more than they ever did back in Japan. If Hunts men win, they get full salary, benefits, and more people employed. Yet when Hunt tells the angry workers of the deal, despite their "we're number 1" attitude, hate the deal. He then caves to peer pressure and lies about another deal for a 1/2 raise  for 12,500 cars. Satisfied that this number is doable without having to put in the hard work, Hunt is again their hero. That is, till they learn the truth.

Gedde Watanabe is as funny as he was as Long Duck Dong, only now getting a lead role. As the film goes on his tension mounts until he finally loses it and flips out. Michael Keaton is his wonderfully animated self as the guy trying to win the big game all over again. The Ron Howard / Michael Keaton formula only improves from their last collaboration, Night Shift. Howard is more seasoned as a director, and Keaton is at his comedic prime, coming off the success of Mr. Mom. The film itself neither glorifies or demeans either culture, but illustrates the clear differences in a humorous way. When the Assan executives play softball against the working team, the metaphor is clear; they are beating us at our own game. Just an all around funny film that'll leave you feeling somewhat inspired.

SEE THE TRAILER: Gung Ho