Knock Off

1998 · action · crime · thriller · comedy · KonCATIII · Knock Films A.V.V. · MDP Worldwide · Film Workshop

Knock Off ( Chinese : 迎頭痛擊 ) is a 1998 action comedy film directed by Tsui Hark and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme , their second collaboration following Double Team (1997). The American and Hong Kong co-production co-stars Rob Schneider , Lela Rochon , Michael Wong , Carman Lee and Paul Sorvino . Set against the backdrop of the 1997 handover of Hong Kong , the film is about a fashion executive (Van Damme) who uncovers a conspiracy involving counterfeit goods. The film is also the second collaboration between Van Damme and Steven E. de Souza , the first film being Street Fighter , released in 1994. The title is a double entendre , as the term colloquially refers to both counterfeit goods as well as targeted killing . Knock Off released in the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing on September 4, 1998. It received mostly negative reviews, [ 5 ] though some critics praised the action sequences and Hark's visuals. [ 6 ] Plot Hong Kong , June 1997. On the eve of the handover ceremony , Russian mobsters searching for something underwater find a crate as police close in. They accidentally open the crate and baby dolls float to the surface before exploding. Downtown, Tommy Hendricks is arranging a fashion show for "V-Six" Jeans. His partner, Marcus Ray shows up late after inspecting a warehouse of their goods where he sees several knock-offs, including the exploding dolls, peddled by a triad , Skinny Wang. Marcus and Tommy then participate in a rickshaw race during which Marcus' adopted brother and friend Eddie Wang (Skinny's brother) cheats to win by switching with a body double. The body double gets kidnapped by the Russians (looking for Eddie) and Marcus gives chase. Ultimately, they kill the fake Eddie and Hong Kong police led by Inspector Han arrest Marcus and Tommy, but release them without charges. Back at their office, an executive from V-Six, Karen Lee claims a shipment of jeans was counterfeit and Marcus and Tommy are responsible for over $5 million of losses. She agrees to let it go if they go to the warehouse that switched the fake jeans and identify who did it. Meanwhile, the Russian bosses kill the agents who failed to retrieve the dolls and get tipped off by Skinny that V-Six is onto them and is going to their warehouse. When Tommy gets kidnapped at a restaurant, Marcus follows him and finds him talking to his CIA handlers. He is a CIA agent sent to discover the counterfeiters who used Marcus, "the king of knock offs," as his cover. That night, before they arrive at the warehouse, a truck bursts out. Marcus gets on top of it and when it ultimately crashes they find it full of tiny discs. Tommy's boss, Harry Johansson determines they are powerful "nanobombs" at their base inside The Big Buddha . Believing Eddie to be in on it, they go to see him. Eddie fingers Skinny as the counterfeiter; he found out they had bombs in the merchandise and tried to have it dumped in the ocean before the Russians found them. He opens a safe to give them proof, but it explodes, killing him. Tommy and Marcus have to fight their way out of the building. Tommy obtains security footage on the way out. Marcus kidnaps Skinny and takes him back to the CIA base. There, the security footage reveals Karen was in the warehouse just before they were. At the office, she handcuffs Tommy and prepares to question him. After Marcus leaves, the Buddha explodes, and Marcus races to the office to save Tommy. After a fight, she reveals she's CIA as well, and the three team up. While Marcus changes, the Russians kidnap Karen and Tommy, and Marcus finds a bomb detector in Karen's things. He realizes the jean studs are the nanobombs and checks the computer for the shipping manifest. He and Inspector Han race to the cargo ship where Karen and Tommy are being held. Tommy is relieved to see Harry on board, but Harry reveals he is a double agent intending to ransom companies for not detonating the nanobombs they have been secretly planting in manufactured goods all over the world. Marcus and the detective board the barge and fight through all of the Russians, eventually escaping just before Harry detonates it. Karen plants a handful of the nanobombs on Harry's boat as well, which explodes. They find the detonator in the water and take it. Two hours later, Tommy and Marcus talk in a bar. Tommy still has the detonator. In a distant room, Harry, still alive, is planting nanobombs on a toy. Tommy carelessly activates the detonator, destroying the building Harry is in, in the distance. Cast Jean-Claude Van Damme as Marcus Ray Rob Schneider as Tommy Hendricks Lela Rochon as Karen Lee Michael Wong as Inspector Han Paul Sorvino as Harry Johansson Carman Lee as Ling Ho Wyman Wong as Eddie Wang Glen Chin as Skinny Wang Wes Wolff as Dinger Moses Chan as Officer Wong Ray Nicholas as Karl Jeff Wolfe as Skaar Michael Miller as Tickler Steve Brettingham as Hawkeye Mark Houghton as Bear Peter Nelson as Biff Kim Maree Penn as Chip Thomas Hudak as Kyle Steve Nat