Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (formerly Blazing Samurai) is an animated film loosely inspired by the 1974 comedy film Blazing Saddles. The film features the voices of Michael Cera, Ricky Gervais, George Takei, Gabriel Iglesias, Michelle Yeoh, and Samuel L. Jackson.
It was released on July 15, 2022 by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies.[1]
Premise[]
After the town of Kakamucho was taken over by cats led by a warlord Ika Chu (Ricky Gervais), Hank, a newly-appointed sherrif dog (Michael Cera), who dreams of becoming a samurai, must enlist the help of a retired legendary warrior Jimbo (Samuel L. Jackson). The only problem is... cats hate dogs!
Plot[]
In a land inspired by feudal Japan and entirely inhabited by cats, Ika Chu, a conniving high ranking official of the land's Shogun, desires to expand his giant palace. However, it resides right next to the impoverished village of Kakamucho. Hoping to get rid of it, Ika Chu plans to force Kakamucho's residents to abandon their town by sending a gang of thugs led by his second-in-hand Ohga to trash the town. The townspeople demand that the Shogun appoint a new samurai to protect them after the previous one flees. Ika Chu, hoping to offend the townspeople, decides to appoint Hank, a dog prisoner about to be executed, as Kakamucho's samurai.
After an initial hostile reception, Hank relies on the assistance of Jimbo, a catnip-addled samurai who reluctantly agrees to train him, in order to overcome the townspeople's hostility. While training, Hank subdues Sumo, an immensely strong henchman that Ika Chu sent to drive out the townspeople quicker, with the help of Jimbo. The townspeople start to see Hank as a hero, but his newfound popularity ends up going to Hank's head, and he neglects his training, which causes a fallout between him and Jimbo. Ika Chu takes Hank to a private nightclub, in order to distract him as his thugs trash Kakamucho. Hank returns to a devastated town and, after a heated argument with Jimbo, he decides to go home, but an origami figure of himself reminds him of his samurai oath.
Jimbo, meanwhile, attempts to storm Ika Chu's palace in hopes to free Sumo, who was captured by Ika Chu's henchmen. Hank returns in order to help him out. Upon hearing about Sumo's escape, Ika Chu recruits an army of thugs to get rid of Kakamucho for good. Hank returns to Kakamucho, and explains his plan to defeat Ika Chu's army. The townspeople then build a perfect paper copy of the town and themselves as a diversion. When the raiders attack the fake town and its population of dummies, which have been booby-trapped with dynamite, Hank ignites the bombs and the townspeople attack the thugs. The Shogun arrives, who questions the ruckus. Ohga accidentally exposes Ika Chu's plan to him, causing Ika Chu to flee. Hank then chases Ika Chu to his palace, where he fights him on his giant jade toilet, which overflows and threatens to flood the town. Hank warns the Kakamucho townspeople of the incoming flood, and leads them in the digging of a channel to safely divert the water around the town.
With Kakamucho saved, the impressed Shogun decides to appoint Jimbo as the new samurai, but he gives the position to Hank. Hank, however, feels that he is not entirely ready, so he ends up giving the position to Emiko, a kitten who also desires to be a samurai. Hank and Jimbo continue to train in their own time, with their relationship mended.
In a post-credits scene, a now imprisoned Ika Chu consoles himself that at least he will not have to partake in a sequel.
Voice cast[]
- Michael Cera as Hank
- Samuel L. Jackson as Jimbo
- Ricky Gervais as Ika Chu
- Mel Brooks as Shogun
- George Takei as Ohga
- Gabriel Iglesias as Chuck
- Djimon Hounsou as Sumo
- Michelle Yeoh as Yuki
- Kylie Kuioka as Emiko
- Aasif Mandvi as Ichiro
- Cathy Shim as Little Mama
- Michael K. Lee as Unnamed former samurai
Trivia[]
- Rob Minkoff, one of the film's directors, was known for directing films such as The Lion King and Mr. Peabody and Sherman.
- Originally, the story was intended to revolve around a black samurai protecting an East Asian village, but it was changed to center around cats and dogs in an effort to make the story more universal.
- Prior to company's closure in 2016, Arc Productions was originally set to provide the animation.
- Despite the title, Hank does not become a legend.
- Unlike the last few movies, the Nickelodeon Movies logo featured in this movie didn't have SpongeBob's grunts.
Videos[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ ‘Blazing Samurai’ Swaps Title for ‘Paws of Fury’ (Animation Magazine) Date: April 7, 2022. Author: Mercedes Milligan.