Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (formerly Blazing Samurai) is an animated film loosely inspired by the 1974 comedy film . 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.‘Blazing Samurai’ Swaps Title for ‘Paws of Fury’ (Animation Magazine) Date: April 7, 2022. Author: Mercedes Milligan.
==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.
** The exchange between Ikachu and Ohga when the former orders the latter to "take care of [Hank]" also references a similar exchange between Scar and Banzai in the former film.
* 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 the company's closure in 2016, Arc Productions was originally set to provide the animation. It was also originally going to be distributed by Open Road Films in the US before distribution rights were brought over to Paramount.
* Shogun being voiced by Mel Brooks is a nod to his role as Gov. William J. Le Petomane from Blazing Saddles (the film's inspiration), which he also happened to direct.
*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.
*As a running gag throughout the film, Shogun mispronounces Ikachu's name as terms like "Pikachu" (a reference to the Pokemon character of the same name), "Peek-a-boo", and "Nike shoe" (a reference to the shoe company Nike).
* Ikachu's giant jade toilet is named the Super Bowl, a reference to the annual football league championship game of the same name.
*The UK print of this film features some differences from the US print: 
**An extra scene where Ikachu shows Ohga that he owns the world's largest (and second largest) balls of yarn, to which Ohga replies "Those are some big balls!" This scene was cut out in the US print, likely due to sounding inappropriate for most audiences.
**Singing vocals being added during the scene of Hank and Sumo fighting.
**Gangnam Style being played during the scene where Ohga's ninja attack Kakamucha's citizens while Hank is distracted at the club, whereas in domestic prints, Delirious is played during this scene. Oddly, though, Hank is heard whistling to the tune of the former song in both prints.
*The scene where Ohga and his army crash into the film's title is similar to Mei Lee doing the same thing in the Disney/Pixar film Turning Red (which was released four months prior to this film).
*Jimbo's line "The cuteness is strong with this one" and later Ikachu quoting Vader's iconic line "I am your father" during the climactic battle are both references to Star Wars.
**Coincidentally, Samuel L. Jackson (Jimbo's voice actor) starred as Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequel films.
*When Ohga sees the fire arrow, he says "Oh my!", which happens to be his voice actor George Takei's catchphrase.
*Ikachu's limo being carried by cats instead of wheels is similar to Haman's car having peas in place of its wheels in the VeggieTales video "Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen".
*The West End musical Mamma Mia! is mentioned by Ichiro at one point in the film.
==Videos==
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Official Trailer (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Official Trailer 2 (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank Exclusive Movie Clip - Training (2022) - Movieclips Coming Soon
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Lyric Video (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Hank & Jimbo Featurette (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Hank (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Jimbo (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Emiko (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Ika Chu (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Sumo (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Does This Dog Know His Cats? (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Rise of the Kitties (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
Paws of Fury- The Legend of Hank - Chuck & Ichiro Featurette (2022 Movie) – Paramount Pictures
==Gallery==
Paws_of_fury_the_legend_of_hank_xlg.jpg|Teaser poster
Paws of Fury The Legend of Hank Theatrical release poster.jpeg|Official poster
Hank poster.jpeg
Jimbo poster.jpeg
Ika Chu poster.jpeg
Ohga poster.jpeg
Shogun poster.jpeg
Sumo poster.jpeg
Yuki poster.jpeg
Emiko poster.jpeg
Chuck poster.jpeg
Ichiro poster.jpeg
Paws of Fury official art poster.jpeg
File:paws_of_fury_the_legend_of_hank_ver14.jpg
File:Paws of fury the legend of hank ver15.jpg
File:paws_of_fury_the_legend_of_hank_ver16.jpg
File:paws_of_fury_the_legend_of_hank_ver17.jpg
File:paws_of_fury_the_legend_of_hank_ver19.jpg
File:paws_of_fury_the_legend_of_hank_ver20.jpg
Paws of Fury The Legend of Hank Banner Hank Poster.jpeg
==References==
Category:Movies
Category:Theatrical movies
Category:Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank