Over the last decade, the action landscape in East Asia has drastically changed. What once felt like a forgotten relic of the past is now producing some of the most inventive and satisfying action films of the year. Just look at films like The Furious, The Roundup, or the Rurouni Kenshin series for recent examples. With Sabu’s latest film Arrested Memory, he brings things back to basics, where execution and style reign supreme rather than death‑defying choreography. But Arrested Memory’s greatest strength isn’t its action; it’s the film’s laugh‑out‑loud comedy.

Police Captain Lee (Ethan Juan) has recently developed amnesia after a police operation that went wrong. Transferred to a new station where he and his colleagues barely know one another, he is assigned to a kidnapping case and tasked with delivering the ransom money. However, due to his amnesia, he goes AWOL and disappears with the money; despite this, his instincts lead him towards the criminals.

Watching Lee attempt to save the young boy Kentaro from kidnappers isn’t revolutionary. However, the execution leads to a final product that is nothing short of a high‑octane thrill ride. It moves at a breakneck pace that keeps you gripped from its opening moments to its surprisingly sweet, heartfelt ending. Despite losing his memory and suffering a mental breakdown after a past operation, Lee never loses his humanity or his instinctive sense of what it means to be a good police officer.

Throughout the film, we see blink‑and‑you‑miss‑it moments of crime, but for Lee it’s as if time slows down, allowing him to piece together the entire scenario in his head. This sixth sense leads to one of the best comedic moments in the film, a gag that had me laughing uncontrollably no matter how many times the story returned to it. The film’s biggest strength is its humour. Especially in dark times, comedy allows us to relax in ways that few other genres can replicate, and Arrested Memory embraces that truth wholeheartedly.

Read more of our TIFF coverage →

The number of scenes in this film that had me uncontrollably laughing is too many to count. Whether it’s the standoff between the police and the kidnapper’s family, a junkie they arrested somehow becoming the lead in the operation to find Captain Lee, or even the way Lee always manages to stumble back into the right direction with the case. It’s nothing short of comedic gold. However, the next standout isn’t the action but the humanity the film perfectly showcases.

While it’s idealistic to suggest that the police are as morally good as Lee, the film itself shows that the police are often incompetent. Yet Lee, even when he’s struggling to remember his own name, still tries to do good, something we see clearly when he rescues Hua (Moon Lee), who has attempted to overdose. Despite her anger at being saved and forced to remain in a world she no longer wants to be part of, this second lease on life allows both Hua and Lee to confront their circumstances and support one another through thick and thin.

This blend of humanity, comedy, and action wouldn’t work nearly as well if it weren’t for the incredible work of lead actor Juan, who is absolutely outstanding as Captain Lee. He delivers so much emotion and humour through his physical performance that he often doesn’t need a single line of dialogue. The large supporting cast is also excellent, each fitting their respective roles immaculately. Lee, as Hua, is truly wonderful; despite not having much screen time, her performance allows the character to flourish.

Sabu, I feel, has done the impossible with Arrested Memory: he has created an action comedy that is both a riotously funny experience and packed with kick‑ass action. I haven’t laughed out loud at an action film in such a long time, and its breakneck, gripping pace makes it highly rewatchable. Arrested Memory is simply a great time at the pictures.

★★★★

Had its North American Premiere at the 2026 Toronto Film Festival / Ethan Juan, Hsieh Ying Xuan, Moon Lee, Shinchi Tsutsumi, Reika Kirishima / Dir: Sabu

About the Author

Robert Ewing

Author

Rob is a freelance film critic and writer who specialises in Anime and Asian cinema. I have adored film since a young age, having watched films that were far too old for me, such as RoboCop, Die Hard, and Hot Tub Time Machine, to discovering the heights of foreign cinema through films like Headhunters and Battle Royale. Growing up with such a diverse catalogue of films that I cherished sparked my desire to discuss them. This passion eventually led me to become a reviewer. Dissecting films, speaking to filmmakers I admire, and showcasing the best of Asian and anime cinema is how I live my best and truest life.

Visit Website View All Posts