When a western Pennsylvania auto plant is acquired by a Japanese company, brokering auto worker Hunt Stevenson faces the tricky challenge of mediating the assimilation of two clashing corporate cultures. At one end is the Japanese plant manager and the sycophant who is angling for his position. At the other, a number of disgruntled long-time union members struggle with the new exigencies of Japanese quality control.
Acting
Keaton's manic energy anchors every scene.
Direction
Ron Howard finds heart in factory grime.
Writing
Edwin Blum's script bites harder than expected.
Director
Ron Howard
Michael Keaton
Hunt Stevenson
Gedde Watanabe
Oishi Kazihiro
George Wendt
Buster
Mimi Rogers
Audrey
John Turturro
Willie
So Yamamura
Mr. Sakamoto
Sab Shimono
Saito
Rick Overton
Googie
Clint Howard
Paul
Jihmi Kennedy
Junior
Michelle Johnson
Heather DiStefano
Rodney Kageyama
Ito
Rance Howard
Mayor Conrad Zwart
Patti Yasutake
Umeki Kazihiro
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during peak 'Japan panic' era, the film accidentally documents real 1980s factory buyouts like NUMMI. Japanese audiences found it cringeworthy; American workers found it uncomfortably familiar.
The title 'Gung Ho' is actually a misappropriation—it's Chinese, not Japanese, meaning 'work together.' The irony of a culture-clash movie getting its own cultures confused is *chef's kiss*.
US
