Beverly Hills Ninja (1997)

A man tries to rescue a woman with a little help from his half brother.

Director:

Dennis Dugan

Writers:

Mark Feldberg, Mitchell Klebanoff (as Mitch Klebanoff)

Stars:

Chris Farley, Nicollette Sheridan, Robin Shou

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chris Farley	...	Haru
Nicollette Sheridan	...	Allison Page / Sally Jones
Robin Shou	...	Gobei
Nathaniel Parker	...	Martin Tanley
Soon-Tek Oh	...	Sensei
Keith Cooke	...	Nobu (as Keith Cooke Hirabayashi)
Chris Rock	...	Joey
François Chau	...	Izumo
Dale Ishimoto	...	Old Japanese Man
Daming Chen	...	Head Kobudosai
Burt Bulos	...	Mr. Ozaru
Curtis Blanck	...	Billy
Tom Bailey	...	Billy's Dad
Jason Tobin	...	Busboy (as Jason J. Tobin)
Richard Kline	...	Driver

Storyline

Following a ship wreck, a baby is rescued by a clan of Ninja warriors and raised by them as one of their own. But Haru, as he is called, never quite fits in, nor does he manage to make a worthy Ninja. However, the good-natured and persevering Haru, in his own bumbling way, and with some help from Gobei, manages to prove himself to be a winner in the end.

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Plot Keywords:

slowness | ninja | ship wreck | murder | japan | 

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Taglines:

Kung fool!

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Genres:

Action | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sex related humor, martial arts violence and a humerous drug related scene

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le ninja de Beverly Hills

Filming Locations:

950 Mei Ling Way, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,220,920, 20 January 1997

Gross USA:

$31,235,710, 15 June 1997

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$37,639,029, 31 December 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

3 Arts Entertainment, Beverly Hills Ninja Productions, Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Bradley Jenkel, Chris Farley demanded that Chris Rock co-star in the film and would not do the film without Rock.

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Goofs

After explaining to Joey about how "black his belt is", the swords disappear from Haru's hands.

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Quotes

Haru: I am sure you would like to know who I am and what I do, but as part of my creed, I cannot tell you. See my identity must remain mysterious and my mission secret, I cannot reveal it to you.
Billy: Why not?
Haru: Because I would then have to kill you.
Billy: DADDY!
[runs to his dad, frightened]
Billy: Daddy, he said he's gonna kill me!
Billy's Dad: [to Haru] What'd you say to my kid?
Haru: I was merely relaying to him...
[Billy's Dad punches him in the face]

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Alternate Versions

Even though passed by the BBFC a scene involving Haru using nunchakus and hurting himself was cut when aired on Sky.

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Connections

Referenced in One Hit Wonderland: Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas (2012)

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Soundtracks

I'm Too Sexy
Written by Fred Fairbrass, Richard Fairbrass, Rob Manzoli (as Rod Manzoli)
Performed by Right Said Fred
Courtesy of Charisma Records America, Inc. / Gut Reaction, Ltd.

User Reviews

Funny movie

A slapstick comedy starring Chris Farley, Beverly Hills Ninja is part prop-gag movie and part testament to the late comedian's physical comedic abilities. As a baby, Haru (Farley) appeared on the coastal shores of Japan. Legend has it that a foreigner would arrive and become the greatest ninja ever, known as the "Great White Ninja." As Haru grew, it became apparent: he was not the one. But when a beautiful stranger named Sally (Nicollette Sheridan) appears at the Jojo seeking a ninja's help, Haru finds his calling. Through a series of mix-ups (generally caused by Haru himself), Haru is framed for murder and he follows Sally to Beverly Hills to set things right. Finding out Sally's boyfriend is a counterfeiter and murderer, Haru with the help of hotel bellboy Joey (Chris Rock) and unknowingly with the help of his ninja brother Gobei (Robin Shou) takes down the counterfeit ring and finds his place among the ninja clan. Beverly Hills Ninja is full of individual comic gags that are hilarious in their purity--call it sadistic, but sometimes it's just plain funny watching a guy unwittingly walk into a lamppost while carrying on a conversation. Farley was a master at these tried-and-true gags, which reach right back into the origins of comedy. But it's not all slapstick; a scene where Haru is so taken by dancers at a local strip bar that he joins in is reminiscent of the mud-wrestling scene from Stripes. Beverly Hills Ninja may be considered a low-brow romp, but a romp it is nonetheless.