Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- irreverent
- kinetic
- witty
- casual movie night
- action comedy marathon
What critics said
Critics found Jean Reno appealing and the action energetic, but broadly considered the film hollow and tonally uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Hubert is a policeman known for sharp, violent methods, and his abuse of authority is an explicit plot and character feature.
A French police officer returns to Japan and must work through unfamiliar social and criminal environments.
Hubert discovers that Yumi is his previously unknown daughter and becomes responsible for her safety.
The critical reception specifically describes the film as ricocheting from humor to violence and back again, matching its action-comedy construction.
Films like Wasabi, and why
Lethal Weapon
Shares kinetic action comedy, an abrasive police protagonist, and irreverent humor balanced with family revelations.
The Last Boy Scout
Combines fish out of water comedy, criminal underworld action, and a tough central cop with an unexpectedly personal mission.
The Fifth Element
Pairs French-inflected comic timing with stylized violence, eccentric characters, and a globe-spanning crime adventure.
Movie Details
- Director
- Gérard Krawczyk
- Release Date
- 2001-10-31
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1485)
Cast
- Jean Reno
- Ryoko Hirosue
- Michel Muller
- Carole Bouquet
- Yoshi Oida
- Christian Sinniger
- Alexandre Brik
- Jean-Marc Montalto
- Véronique Balme
- Fabio Zenoni
Common questions
- What is Wasabi about?
- A hard-edged French cop in Japan discovers an unknown daughter while settling an old lover’s estate and battling criminal forces.
- What is Wasabi like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Wasabi as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Wasabi violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Wasabi as brutal.
- What did critics think of Wasabi?
- Critics found Jean Reno appealing and the action energetic, but broadly considered the film hollow and tonally uneven.
- Which films are like Wasabi?
- Films with a similar feel include Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, and The Fifth Element.
- How long is Wasabi?
- Wasabi runs 94 minutes.
