The Inspector Wears Skirts film series ran from 1988 to 1992 and spans four films. The first one was a perfect mesh of action and comedy. However, they quickly began to falter in stamina after that. The second film is essentially a rehash of the first, and the third follows in their footsteps. 88 Films and their sub-label 88 Asia have brought The Inspector Wears Skirts 3 and the fourth final film to special edition Blu-ray. Whether the film works is debatable, but it’s still a disc worth adding to the collection.
Inspector Kan (Stanley Fung) has taken over training the SKIRTS division as his wife, Madame Wu (Sibelle Hu) has decided to retire. The Banshee Squad Members have to sharpen their skills before their next assignment. It’s one of the more difficult ones since a group of thieves responsible for stealing police and military weapons is planning a deal on board a casino ship. The distractions on the ship could prove to be too much, but maybe they can pull it together long enough to be the heroes.
The Inspector Wears Skirts 3 fails to capture an audience like the first two films did. It’s chock-full humor that not only falls flat but, by 2024 standards, could be considered offensive. I didn’t personally find it offensive, just moronic. The film’s first half has nearly no action except for a brief fight scene during the training. The film’s last half takes place on a cruise ship where I thought there would be a massive showdown. It’s a letdown with more idiotic humor that just doesn’t work. There may be a worthy chuckle or two, but that’s about it.
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Sibelle Hu barely appears in the film, though she does show up to help save the day, which is the best scene in the film. The last ten or so minutes offer some solid action, but at this point, it’s a little too late. It’s a very disappointing film and the lowest point for the series as a whole.
The disc itself doesn’t disappoint with the 2K re-master from the original negative, a commentary by Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng, a deleted scene, the Hong Kong trailer, and a reversible sleeve. It also has a slipcover and a two-sided mini poster with the new and original artwork.
The Inspector Wears Skirts 3 is a disappointment with a few choice moments. It’s worth seeing once, and it’s hard to omit it from the collection, as it has to be complete, right?
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