Gung Ho (1986)

When a Japanese car company buys an American plant, the American liaison must mediate the clash of work attitudes between the foreign management and native labor.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Edwin Blum (story), Lowell Ganz (story)

Stars:

Michael Keaton, Gedde Watanabe, George Wendt

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Keaton	...	Hunt Stevenson
Gedde Watanabe	...	Oishi Kazihiro
George Wendt	...	Buster
Mimi Rogers	...	Audrey
John Turturro	...	Willie
Sô Yamamura	...	Mr. Sakamoto (as Soh Yamamura)
Sab Shimono	...	Saito
Rick Overton	...	Googie
Clint Howard	...	Paul
Jihmi Kennedy	...	Junior
Michelle Johnson	...	Heather DiStefano
Rodney Kageyama	...	Ito
Rance Howard	...	Mayor Conrad Zwart
Patti Yasutake	...	Umeki Kazihiro (as Patti Yasuiake)
Jerry Tondo	...	Kazuo

Storyline

Hunt Stevenson works for a large car manufacturer that has just been bought out by a Japanese firm. Suddenly finding himself having to justify his own job, he's forced to choose between redundancy or the seemingly inhuman Japanese work ethic that the new owners have brought with them.

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Plot Keywords:

1980s | car factory | culture clash | foreman | automobile industry | 

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Taglines:

When East meets West, the laughs shift into high gear!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ron Howard's first film shot in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

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Goofs

The plane (registration number JA209T) used by the Japanese delegation when they came to Hadleyville seemed to be a short version of Hawker 800. The normal (long) version seats 8 passengers maximum. The movie version carried at least 16 adults and 2 children as passengers.

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Quotes

Oishi Kazihiro: Everybody in this country thinks they are special. Nobody wants to be part of a team. They're all so busy getting personalized license plates.

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Alternate Versions

Some international editions distributed by Paramount on DVD, reduced the aspect ratio from original 2.39:1 to 2.09:1.

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Connections

Followed by Gung Ho (1986)

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Soundtracks

Working Class Man
Written and Produced by Jonathan Cain
Performed by Jimmy Barnes
Additional remix by Bob Clearmountain
Courtesy of Geffen Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products and Mushroom Records Pty. Ltd.

User Reviews

Not edgy, but funny

Surprised to see the rather low score for this movie. Just saw this film for the first time in 10 years, and was reminded why I like it.

Come back with me, children, to a time when Michael Keaton was a straight-up comedy guy, and you might find some joy in this film. It's a gentle comedy -- the kind Ron Howard specializes in -- but if that's your thing, you should check this out. Keaton's low-key charm is just right for this project.

"Gung Ho" is a bit dated, because it takes places in the last stage of the pre-global economy world, when it still mattered what country a business was based in. That said, it delivers laughs as well as a lesson on how people can learn from each other, to great benefit.

You could watch this film and enjoy it without remembering one scene in particular you really liked, but that's because the whole movie provides a slow but constant stream of laughs. It's like an I.V. drip. And I mean that in a good way.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 March 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gung Ho

Filming Locations:

60581 OH Route 7 Shadyside, Ohio, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,170,830, 16 March 1986

Gross USA:

$36,611,610

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$36,611,610

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1