The Inspector Wears Skirts: A Time Capsule of 1980s Hong Kong Action-Comedy Alchemy, Hong Kong Cinema Historian
Before Jackie Chan perfected slapstick stunts or Stephen Chow redefined mo lei tau (nonsense comedy), there was The Inspector Wears Skirts (1988) – a raucous yet culturally revealing hybrid that encapsulates Hong Kong cinema’s golden era. Directed by action maestro Corey Yuen (元奎) and starring Andy Lau in his comedic prime, this under-discussed gem offers Western viewers a masterclass in balancing bone-crunching martial arts with razor-sharp social satire . Let’s explore why it remains essential viewing for understanding East Asian genre fusion.
I. Context: When Police Reform Met Popcorn Entertainment
Released during Hong Kong’s handover anxiety (1984-1997 transition period), the film cleverly masks political commentary beneath its surface plot about a misfit police squad. Unlike the gritty Infernal Affairs, it uses humor to critique colonial-era law enforcement:
- Gender role subversion: The titular “skirts” refer to an all-female SWAT team – a radical concept in 1980s Asia that lampoons patriarchal police culture .
- Satire of bureaucracy: Lau’s character Chan Ka-Kui, a demoted inspector forced to train the unit, embodies the era’s institutional incompetence through exaggerated drills (e.g., lipstick reloading gags) .
- Post-colonial tension: The villain’s weapon smuggling operation symbolizes foreign economic exploitation, a recurring theme in pre-1997 Hong Kong cinema .
II. Andy Lau’s Pivotal Career Transition
Fresh off his God of Gamblers success, Lau here bridges his “pretty boy” phase and later dramatic depth. Notice three transformative layers:
- Physical Comedy Chops
His rubber-limbed pratfalls during the tea shop chase scene (tripping over bean curd trays) pay homage to Buster Keaton while showcasing underrated athleticism. - Satirical Edge
When lecturing recruits about “police dignity,” Lau delivers lines with mock gravitas that exposes systemic hypocrisy – a precursor to his antihero roles in Infernal Affairs. - Proto-Feminist Advocacy
Though playing a chauvinist, Lau’s character arc (from scoffing at female officers to respecting their skills) mirrors Hong Kong’s real-life gender equality advancements in the 1990s .
III. Corey Yuen’s Action Choreography: Ballet with Broken Noses
The film’s fight sequences (referenced in search results as “action-comedy” .
IV. Cultural Artifacts: 1980s Hong Kong in 4 Details
International viewers might miss these embedded time-capsule elements:
- Fashion as rebellion: The SWAT team’s modified uniforms (neon leg warmers over tactical gear) mirror the “girl group” pop culture revolution led by Anita Mui .
- Linguistic play: Cantonese puns like “gaan duk” (monitor lizard → surveillance duty) showcase untranslatable wordplay central to local humor .
- Food symbolism: Repeated shots of pineapple buns (a Hong Kong staple) being crushed during fights metaphorize the British colonial appetite consuming local identity.
- Cinematic cameos: Look for a young Tony Leung Chiu-Wai as a pickpocket – an inside joke about actor hierarchies in Shaw Brothers-era films .
V. Why It Resonates Globally Today
- MeToo Anticipation The SWAT team’s triumph through collaboration (rather than individual heroism) offers a proto-feminist blueprint distinct from Western “strong female character” tropes.
- Genre-Blending Legacy
Its DNA lives in Everything Everywhere All At Once’s chaos and Shang-Chi’s family drama-fight fusion. - Nostalgia with Bite
Unlike sanitized 80s reboots, its unvarnished portrayal of pre-digital Hong Kong (grimy markets, analogue tech) provides authentic sociohistorical insight .
VI. A New Viewer’s Guide
To fully appreciate this film, Western audiences should:
- Watch the Cantonese version – English dubs erase linguistic nuance critical to jokes about police ranks (e.g., “Sergeant” vs. “Sir” power dynamics).
- Compare with contemporaries: Contrast Lau’s physical comedy here with Sammo Hung’s in Wheels on Meals (1984) to appreciate regional stylistic differences.
- Note the Jackie Chan connection: Though not starring, his influence is evident in the ladder fight choreography later perfected in Rumble in the Bronx.
Conclusion: More Than Just Laughs
-The Inspector Wears Skirts* succeeds not merely as entertainment but as cultural archaeology. For modern viewers navigating global identity crises, its story of underdogs rewriting institutional rules – using humor as both weapon and shield – feels urgently relevant. As Lau’s character growls in the climax, “Even skirts can stop bullets if you fold them right,” we’re reminded that societal armor often hides in unexpected places.
-Where to Watch*: Available with restored subtitles on Asian cinema specialty platforms. Pair it with documentaries about 1980s Hong Kong police reforms for contextual depth.