Movie Type: Action Comedy, Family-Oriented Adventure
Themes: Fighting the System, Underdogs, Heroic Mission
Main Cast: Victor Wong, Charles Napier, Michael Treanor, Max Elliott Slade, Chad Power, Crystle Lightning
Release Year: 1995
Country: US
Run Time: 85 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
In yet another sequel to the surprise family hit 3 Ninjas, the three young Ninja brothers, Rocky (Michael Treanor), Colt (Max Elliott Slade), and Tum Tum (Chad Power), are spending the summer with their grandfather (Victor Wong), who is tutoring them in the martial arts. However, there are foul doings afoot -- Jack (Charles Napier), an unscrupulous business tycoon, has been dumping toxic waste on a nearby Indian burial ground and keeping the matter quiet with kickbacks to the local police. When the Ninja brothers try to come to the aid of the local Indian tribe, Jack tries to intimidate them and their Native American friends, a plan that only makes the boys more determined to see that justice is done. 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up was actually shot in 1994, a year before 3 Ninjas Kick Back, and features the same three actors who played the Ninja brothers in the first film. However, 3 Ninja Kick Back, which replaced two members of the original cast, was released first. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Patrick Kilpatrick - J.J.; Donal Logue - Jimmy; Danuel Pipoly - Biker; Don Stark - Sheriff; Sheldon Peters Wolfchild - Lee; Gary Epper - Biker; Vincent Schiavelli - Mayor; Michael Hungerford - Kid; Eric Mansker - Town Man; Cathy Perry - Reporter; Donald L. Shanks - Charlie; Jeff Cadiente
Credit
Eric Small - First Assistant Director, Simon Sheen - Director, Gary Scott - Composer (Music Score), Don Day - Production Designer, Eugene Shlugleit - Cinematographer, Martha Chang - Producer, James Kang - Producer, Bill Robbins - Sound/Sound Designer, Chuck Picerni, Jr. - Stunts, Mario Roberts - Stunts, Alex S. Kim - Screenwriter
Rocky, Colt, and Tum-Tum defend "Truth, Justice and the American Way", once more — this time, protecting a Native American village and the rest of society against a Toxic Waste Company.
In comparison to 3 Ninjas Kick Back
Rocky, Colt, and Tum Tum appear younger than they were in the previous films because 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up was actually shot in 1993, the year after the first film was released, a year before 3 Ninjas Kick Back, and features the same three actors who played the ninja brothers in the first film. However, 3 Ninjas Kick Back, which replaced two members of the original cast, was released first due to the delay of Knuckle Up. In some scenes of 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up Rocky, Colt, and Tum Tum look older because these were filmed in 1995 after the filming of 3 Ninjas Kick Back. Rocky has braces and is taller with a deeper voice, as does Colt look taller and has a deeper voice in these scenes.
