3 Ninjas is a 1992 American martial arts comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub. The film stars Victor Wong, Michael Treanor, Max Elliott Slade, and Chad Power.
It was the only 3 Ninjas film released by Touchstone Pictures, while the others were released by TriStar Pictures. This article delves into the plot, cast, and reception of this memorable '90s film.
Plot Summary
Every summer, the Douglas brothers-12-year-old Samuel (Rocky), 11-year-old Jeffrey (Colt), and 6-year-old Michael (Tum Tum)-visit their grandfather, Mori Tanaka, at his cabin. Mori trains his grandsons in the art of ninjutsu.
The boys' father, Sam Douglas, is an FBI agent who stages a sting operation to entrap a master criminal named Hugo Snyder in the sale of warheads. Snyder evades the trap with the use of his ninja henchmen and flees via helicopter, then later visits Mori, his former business partner.
Mori is tested by Snyder's ninjas and defeats them with his grandsons' help. When the boys return home, they find their father unenthusiastic to see what they had learned during their visit and more annoyed at their new names.
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Snyder develops a plan to kidnap the brothers to use them as leverage against Sam so he can complete his missile sale. Snyder's consigliere Nigel Brown contacts his irresponsible nephew Fester, a petty criminal surf punk, as well as his buddies Hammer and Marcus, to kidnap the brothers, but their plans are put on hold due to the FBI's presence.
The next day, Fester and his friends follow the brothers to school, but are side-tracked by a fender bender with a police car. Emily becomes separated from the brothers and encounters a group of bullies who steal her bike.
At recess, the brothers challenge the bullies to a two-on-two basketball game, spotting the bullies nine points. Despite the bullies' dirty tactics, the brothers score ten consecutive points and win back Emily's bike.
That night, Colt learns that Snyder and Mori are old friends. Fester and his friends break into the house with a fake pizza order, subduing the boys' babysitter. Believing it to be a home invasion, the brothers suit up in their ninja gi's and fight back using their surroundings and numerous household items.
After regrouping in the boys' bedroom, Fester uses Rocky's homemade phone to call Emily over and they take her hostage, but the boys are able to outsmart and defeat Fester's group, even spiking their soda with laxative. After freeing the babysitter, the brothers are overpowered by Snyder's bodyguard Rushmore and are taken captive to Snyder's ship and soon learn that their grandfather was Snyder's sensei.
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The brothers escape, putting the ship on high alert, and manage to subdue Rushmore and many of Snyder's ninjas while Mori infiltrates the ship to rescue the brothers. Snyder confronts Mori in the ship dojo and challenges him to a fight for the brothers' freedom.
Due to his youth and speed (and a hidden pepper bomb), Snyder gains the upper hand and is prepared to deliver the coup-de-grace, until Mori gags Snyder with a handful of Tum-Tum's jelly beans and finally defeats him.
Enraged, Snyder grabs a gun from one of his subordinates and attempts to shoot Mori and the boys, but is suddenly shot in the shoulder by Sam, who arrives with his backup to arrest Snyder, Brown, and their henchmen.
Cast
- Victor Wong as Mori Tanaka
- Michael Treanor as Samuel "Rocky" Douglas Jr.
- Max Elliott Slade as Jeffrey "Colt" Douglas
- Chad Power as Michael "Tum Tum" Douglas
- Alan McRae as Sam Douglas
- Margaret Travolta as Jessica Douglas
- Rand Kingsley as Hugo Snyder
- Joel Swetow as Mr. D.J.
International Cut
The international cut of the film features a number of small parts of scenes that were cut from the film for its American release, most likely to ensure a PG rating. Among the cut scenes are (not all-inclusive):
- Extra footage of Snyder's escape in which he discovers the money during the sting to be a fake while confronting two FBI agents whom he promptly defeats.
- A scene in which Fester fires a gun in the convenience store while Hammer and Marcus tie up the clerk behind the counter.
- A scene in which Fester gets the Douglas family address from Brown.
- Additional footage of Grandpa trailing Snyder to his ship hideout.
- Numerous small portions of the scene where the kidnappers invade the Douglas household, including Colt beating them after covering them under a tarp in the room being renovated.
- A scene of Fester asking his uncle (Brown) if he can be paid.
- Extra sarcastic dialogue while the boys are locked up in Snyder's ship.
- An extended scene in which the boys are reunited with Grandpa.
Additionally, in the international version, the boys lose the basketball challenge and their bikes, so the film ends with a scene in which Rocky fights one of the bullies to get them back.
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Reception
As of 2020, the film has a 32% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 22 reviews. Despite some dated elements, 3 Ninjas remains a foundational part of '90s kid entertainment history.
The dated '90s phrases and bad stunts stick out like a sore ninja kick to the head. As a kid I must have watched this 100 times. Funny in 1 hour and 24 minutes!
3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up (Trailer)
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