One nice thing about 'City Hunter' is that in general one doesn't need to be familiar with the manga, or even the anime series, to be able to jump in at any time and appreciate the franchise. This 1996 TV movie is definitely one such example, as basically everything we need to know about the recurring characters is within these ninety-odd minutes, and the narrative is otherwise self-contained. Thus do we get a compelling story as our heroes are assigned to the protective detail of a political figure and tackle the intrigue that comes with it; the presentation is filled with action, and just the right touches of drama and heart to anchor the proceedings. All that is especially important, of course, to balance the comedy - much of which stems from the ridiculous antics of protagonist Saeba Ryo, as notorious and lascivious a creep as he is a highly skilled investigator and fighter, and partner Kaoru. There's something to be said for the fact that Saeba hasn't aged well as a character, and was never appropriate in the first place; in fairness, it's not as if he is ever particularly successful in his lecherous efforts. And even with the caveat, there's not much arguing that 'The Secret Service' is highly entertaining!
That word "balance" is critical, because in all earnestness I think this feature is stronger in that regard, and for that matter others, than other instances of the franchise. Much of the humor stems from Saeba's predatory behavior, and the frustration thereof, but there is also a great deal otherwise, and one way or another this earns a lot of hearty laughs all throughout its length. Meaningful drama and plot ground the proceedings - filmmaker Kodama Kenji and co-writer Endo Akinori drew up a swell saga based on Hojo Tsukasa's original work - with vibrant characterizations to follow. And the action really is fantastic, as sharp and exciting as one would hope from any such fare. To that end, I find the voice acting more notable here than in other renditions of Hojo's work, for the readily shifting vibes arguably require more dexterity and range on the part of the cast, and they adeptly meet those needs. Case in point, Saeba sometimes shifts on a dime between mirthful and unserious, and gratifyingly honest and somber, and among all his co-stars, Kamiya Akira is to be commended for so ably altering his tone. To much the same point, composer Yano Tatsumi gives us a dynamic blend of original music that's just as deft in complementing every mood, scene, and beat.
And of course the animation is plainly excellent. Quibble as we may about its precise quality relative to this or that, I would expect no less from the anime studios of Japan. Beautiful backgrounds and environments and all active elements benefit from the same fine level of detail, and there's subtle, welcome consideration here and there for lighting, shading, and perspective. Character designs are very expressive; the action is fluid and invigorating; any effects look superb. Truthfully, there's not really any going wrong with this film; even at its most outrageous, or cartoonish, it's very smartly written, with an interesting villain and absorbing narrative. One might say that sometimes this takes its approach to balance a smidgen too far as beats of solemn drama are frequently paired with the livelier moments, yet if that or the prevalent writing of Saeba are the worst criticisms that I have to impart, then this has done very well for itself. Actually, of any 'City Hunter' that I've seen to date, I wonder if this isn't the best iteration. I'm all too pleased with how enjoyable the picture is in its swirl of action, comedy, and sincere plot, and while personal preferences may vary, I'm happy to give 'The Secret Service' my high recommendation!
