Gung Ho (1986)

Happy Birthday  !!!!

Today, the legendary ..... (yes, I'm calling him that now.  He deserves it by now), Ron Howard turns 62 !!!

Wikipedia.org Article for Director/Actor Ron Howard:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Howard 

Here's one of our favorite Ron Howard comedies that keeps you laughing and is an amazing lesson about cultural differences coming together in the Michael Keaton car-manufacturing film, Gung Ho (1986).  One of my favorite movies ever (Phil) ...




Run Time:  111 mins
Genre:  Comedy
Format:  Widescreen Format, Color
Director:   Ron Howard
Starring:  Michael Keaton, Gedde Watanabe, George Wendt, Mimi Rogers, John Turturro and Clint Howard

IMDB.com Entry for the Film:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091159/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Wikipedia.org Article for the Film:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gung_Ho_(film)

Wikipedia.org Article for Michael Keaton:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Keaton

Wikipedia.org Article for Gedde Watanabe:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gedde_Watanabe

Wikipedia.org Article for George Wendt:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wendt

Wikipedia.org Article for Mimi Rogers:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimi_Rogers

Wikipedia.org Article for John Turturro:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Turturro

Wikipedia.org Article for Clint Howard:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clint_Howard

Trailer for the Film on YouTube:



Late Night w/ David Letterman: Clint Howard interview (1986) on YouTube:


Legendary director Ron Howard offers a genuine and hilarious look into the world of car manufacturing in a small Appalachian town that needs work so that the town won’t die.  To help save the town, the local auto-union leader, Mr. Popular, town savior, Hunt Stevenson, played amazingly by the great Michael Keaton, is sent to Japan to try and woo the Japanese into buying the, now quiet, auto-manufacturing company in his attempt to save the town.  Fortunately for the town, the language barrier saves the deal and the Japanese come to the town to set up Assan-Motors America.  It is here where we learn about American ethics and Japanese honor.  

We learn that things are very different when two cultures come together, even in the 20th century.  This is one of my favorite comedies of all time.  The humor is excellent and the approach to dueling cultures is hilarious without being ignorant or racist.  It tells us what we in America can learn from others and what we can teach them. There is plenty of fun, romance and it has a great soundtrack.  But, most importantly, it is a commentary on business practices and the fact that money and work shouldn’t be the driving force in the world, but friendship, compromise and humanity is what drives us.

  
It pokes fun at the seriousness of the Japanese business man, while at the same time, allows us to understand what changes for the better Japan has made since the war.  It shows us the freedom of opinion and beliefs, if understood and appreciated, can totally shape a working culture into a happy unit, no matter what differences there are with those opinions.  It shows that two completely different groups can eventually work in harmony towards a common goal.  You must see this film.  – Phil

JUST FOR FUN !!!! - I did not know this until I started doing my research further into this film.  Did you know right after the release of this film the ABC Network tried to do a TV series?  All the Japanese actors from the movie came back for the show, along with Clint Howard and ....... Scott Bakula?


Click the link below at GoWatchIt.com to see where you can stream or watch Gung Ho (1986) online or on TV right now:
http://gowatchit.com/movies/gung-ho-50541

Or check out TVGuide.com to see if this film is playing on TV/Cable in your area:
http://www.tvguide.com/movies/gung-ho/125304/

Check back in tomorrow ......................
For our next Film of the Day .....................