When Hong Kong action films broke through in America during the early ’90s, two of the biggest titles worth tracking down on VHS were Project A and Wheels On Meals. The films brought together Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao in high octane action scenes. While we’d poke around the shelves at Dave’s Videodrome in Carrboro, NC looking for more films starring Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao solo efforts didn’t stick out. Which is a shame since of the trio, Biao had was the one with crazy physical skills. Rosa has Yuen Biao playing a cop which was a popular way to update martial arts movies in the ’80s.
‘Little Monster’ Ha (Biao) is a rookie cop prone to making rookie mistakes. During his first big case, the hot shot Inspector Tin (Sand Pebbles‘ Paul Chun) wants to make a high profile bust of a guy inside a bar. Fearing that the guy inside might have a weapon, Ha is sent in to frisk the guy. However this semi-staged bust goes wrong and Ha gets all the media focus. Later while playing soccer with pals, a jerk in a sportscar destroys the ball. Ha chases after him with a woman’s moped. Lui Lui (The Inspector Wears Skirts‘ Kara Wai) hops on for the ride and ends up getting her head bounced against a delivery truck. Also getting in trouble is officer Lui Kung (Magnificent Warriors‘ Lowell Lo) when he gets into a car wreck that causes a pregnant woman to go into labor. Initially Ha and Kung cross paths because the woman injured on the moped is Kung’s sister. Inspector Tin brings the two together on his Case Analysis Division. The inspector seems to use his crime scene analysis to torture the two as they test out his theories on how people are murdered. Eventually the two land a case dealing with a drug smuggling operation headed by a rogue cop (Police Story‘s Charlie Cho). They need to convince Rosa (The Sexy Lady Driver’s Luk Siu-fan), a model dating a missing police informant to also be an informant. Is she really going to help them crack the case?
Rosa is from that era when Hong Kong was eager to make comic cop films with the vibe of Police Academy yet with the martial arts action you’d get in a more serious film. Yuen Biao and Lowell Lo work well as a comic team. There’s a weird scene where they dress up as pimpish mobsters to try to get Rosa out of debt to loan shark. Lowell Lo puts on the Soul Man makeup. There’s also a bit of romance mixed into the film with Ha dating Kung’s sister while Kung puts the moves on Rosa. Kung uses a sleepwalking routine to get closer to Rosa. I wonder if screenwriter Wong Kar-wai brought this sizzle before he’d go on to make the masterpiece In The Mood For Love. This is the kind of date film where a guy and a gal can both get the kind of movie they’re in the mood to see. Of course, the primary thing in the film is the Golden Harvest level of action. The finale in a warehouse has Yuen Biao showing off mad skills with his feet and fists. Crates are flying all over the place. Kara Wai creates her own whirlwind when she fights back. There’s a good mix of slapstick and destruction on the screen. They even break out a buzz saw during the battle royale. Rosa is a fun buddy cop flick with Yuen Biao and Lowell Lo.
The Video is 1.85:1 anamorphic. The 2K restoration brings out the wildness of Yuen Biao’s moves. The Audio is LPCM 2.0 Mono in both Cantonese and English. Things sound fine for both the fights and the cute romantic scenes. There are also newly translated subtitles so you can get a clearer sense of what the cast is saying.
Illustrated Booklet has essays by Fraser Elliott and Paul Bramhall.
Art Card with the posters on either side. This is suitable for framing.
Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng and F.J. Desanto has Djeng point out that while this isn’t a sequel to the hit Pom Pom, it does feel a part of that series. Djeng calls is it a “spiritual sequel.” Desanto remembers seeing this on VHS. Djeng says the film has never looked better. We learn the real title. They talk about what set Yuen Biao apart from Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung.
Audio Commentary by David West goes into the cast, crew and context of the film. The film played two weeks in Hong Kong and finished #20 for the year. The big film of the year was John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow.
Interview with Joe Cheung & Benz Kong (23:23) has the reflect on their careers and making Rosa. Cheung got involved at Shaw Brothers when he was still in secondary school as a summer job. He observed the director and thought it was a great job. Assistant director Benz Kong grew up in a circus troupe which made his skills in demand. This led to a friendship with Sammo Hung. Both men talk about working with Sammo on film shoots. There is also talk of working with Wong Kar-wai.
English Opening Titles (1:10) makes sure we know “Samo Hung” is a producer.
English Closing Titles (1:41) lets us see the outtakes and action highlights with the cast and crew in English type.
Image Gallery (2:14) includes film stills, lobby cards, posters and more.
Original Trailer (4:27) starts with Yuen Biao flying down a staircase and across the screen. This is followed up with the physical humor. We’re gonna get action and comedy. Sammo Hung as producer is sold in the credits.
88 Films present Rosa: Limited Edition. Directed by Joe Cheung. Screenplay by Wong Kar-wai & Barry Wong. Starring Yuen Biao, Lowell Lo, Luk Siu-fan, Kara Hui, Paul Chun, James Tien, Charlie Cho, Dick Wei & Chung Fat. Running Time: 97 minutes. Rating: Unrated. Release Date: December 9, 2025.
