3 Ninjas Knuckle Up is a 1995 American martial artscomedy film and a prequel to 3 Ninjas Kick Back. The film was directed by Shin Sang-ok, credited as "Simon Sheen". The film was shot in 1992, the same year the first film was released, but was not released until 1995.
Plot
Rocky, Colt, 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. During a summer, the boys are staying with Grandpa Mori when they encounter a group assaulting a girl named Jo at a pizza parlour. After fending off the men, they are praised for their martial arts techniques which gives them big egos. Despite their efforts, they are put to work by Mori and the pizza owner to work off damages. Mori tries to teach them a lesson in humility, but the reference of a flower blooming goes over their heads. Jo comes to the boys later and explains that the men are under the employ of Jack Harding, an industrialist who is illegally dumping toxic contents into the reserve. Without proof, they can do nothing. Jo's father had gone to investigate but had not returned. Colt, who is seemingly attracted to Jo, says that they will help, and they mount an escape plan for her father that night, which is successful. They spend the night celebrating with the tribe and getting thanks for helping them. Jo's father appeals for a court date with significant evidence to put Jack out of business for good, undeterred. Jack arranges to have Jo kidnapped by the Bikers and convince her father to falsify his evidence, which he has no other choice. Rocky and the others get information to where Jo is being held, drive out to free her and return before the court case is dismissed and all of her father's hard work accounts for nothing at all. After fighting through a small band of armed men, they find Jo and return her to the court house just before her father turns the real evidence over to Jack. He admits his mistake and hands the evidence to the judge who deems the case and shuts down the company producing the waste. Jo looks around for the 'heroes' of the day, but they are nowhere to be found. Rocky realizes the point of Mori's earlier lesson: that a flower is content to bloom quietly, without clamoring for attention. The film ends with Grandpa Mori and the boys somersaulting into the air in victory.
The film received mostly negative reviews. Many fans attribute its lack of success to its PG-13 rating, which drove away younger viewers. The movie was nominated for Worst Sequel and The Sequel Nobody Was Clamoring For at 1995 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards, but lost to ' and ', respectively.
