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This may not be the funniest comedy, as the movie raises a few guffaws here and there, but it's the very real scenario in the clash of two cultures that makes the comedy work. Again, this film, originated from a song, deals with car union boss (Keaton again working his winning on screen presence) merging with a Japanese boss (Watanabe) at an American car plant. Now in new hands, the American workers are butting heads, especially Wendt's character, with their new Asian bosses, as they have different work strategies and ethics. The film masks and breathes real life into the complications that arise between both parties, (Watanabe's boss is a real sour puss) where to the Asians, American workers are slack. There lies a real challenge, if you turn out 15000 cars a month, as everything the Japanese do are quick. Just look at the new unoccupied cities they build. It also shows how conformity sucks, something in real life, I think, sucks. Keaton's way of dealing and manipulating this, I liked, but does bow to the bosses demands, put on himself on some occasions, the cold skinny dipping scenes with him and his counterparts, overtly so. Watanabe's character I liked because, he's the only real one, who gets how America thinks, and is sympathetic, like when a workker injures himself. He can't show this of course, cause he'll cop crap from the bigger guns, and that will ruin his career, which as you see, reflects on his own personal life. The dinner meeting at his home, the scene seemed very hostile and standoffish, and I really liked Mimi Rodgers defiance to stay at the table, where the other woman were told to leave. That was brassy. The Pretenders 86 hit, "Don't Get Me Wrong" over the opening credits, of the aptly titled Working Class Man, a.k.a Gung Ho seemed weird, or questionable, where the title song rocks at the end, over end credits, with a sea of plant workers doing exercises whatever, one thing, our fine American workers, find stupid. An insightful and well crafted film/comedy, and a definite recommendation from me. Just don't rely solely on it for laughs.
angelsunchained
Just saw this movie again and was utterly shocked how the American workers were portrayed in this film. The U.S. workers all come across as first class jack-asses. They are crude, loud mouth, ignorant, anti social bullies. None of them come across as even remotely likable. Only Micheal Keaton has a bit of compassion. The Japanese are totally stereotyped, but at least they come across as human beings. This is suppose to be a comedy, but there isn't even one laugh.The storyline is interesting regarding a clash of cultures, but the U.S. culture comes in a distant second. Workers are shown as being lazy, unorganized, hot-tempered and below pare. Of course at the end, the workers "man up" to get their acts together, but honestly who cares. They are so unlikeable and come across as only money hungry that you couldn't care less because they are all a bunch of total jack-asses.
luvsmile3333
In addition to having a humorous, well-written script, this movie can teach current businesses the value of good management practices and a look at Unions. We should all be thinking globally, especially in business. No one knows it all, and everyone can teach us something. If we remain open-minded and work together great things can happen.This movie provides a lesson in close-minded management, the value of honesty, friendship and family and more importantly the value of admitting when you were wrong. The script reveals the differences between cultures and their business practices and skillfully focuses on the ensuing confrontation between them.
