This Girl is Badass!

Though not exactly one of the cinematic powerhouses of the pan-Asian region, the Thai film industry has churned out a number of hugely worthwhile films in the past few years, from the Palme d’Or winning Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives to the stylish action outings of the Brothers Pang. 

As may be inferred from the title, This Girl is Badass! takes a rather more whimsical approach to the art of filmmaking, combining plenty of silly sight gags - no one ever accused the Thai national humour of being overly high-brow - with action sequences that are for the most part surprisingly adept for a film of this budget. 

The story of a bicycle delivery girl (Jeeja Yanin, Chocolate) who gets mixed up with a gang of crooks she must do her best to outwit, the film opens like a poor man’s BMX Bandits, with the sort of paltry ‘stunts’ any child with a BMX has mastered by the age of about six.  Thankfully however our heroine soon disovers a penchant for smacking villains about the head with her bicycle as opposed to using it for popping three-second wheelies, and things settle into a nice equilibrium.  Her wire work ain’t too shabby either, and all up this is no case of false advertising - Yanin really does kick ass. 

Her costars (who include Ong Bak’s Petchtai Wongkamlao) are likewise suitably accomplished, though I personally could have done with less emphasis on goofy comic relief cameos and more on ass kickery, of which there is a disturbing dearth in the film’s middle act.  The storyline also tends to meander somewhat, although it nevertheless culminates in a conclusion of suitably bombastic proportions.  A little bit up and down, but what This Girl is Badass! lacks in genuine laughs it more than makes up for with its expertly crafted action sequences.  If only there were a couple more of them! 

Bonus Features

A decent crop, including several Deleted Scenes, 20 minutes of Cast and Crew Interviews and the usual smattering of Eastern Eye trailers.