- 89,534
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
Another Jackie Chan oeuvre - two weeks in a row...
Once again, we get the feeling that Jackie isn't trusted at his age by the studios - he does some classic Chan, squeezing through bars (a la Rush Hour 2), climbing right-angles in walls (a la everything), but most of his action is wire-based. When he chases Giscard through the streets of Dublin, we'd expect lots of Chan-esque action/slapstick, but NO, he's hoisted on wires throughout.
And this somewhat ruins the premise slightly - Chan becomes a "superman" type figure nearer to the end. But since everyone is being lifted into the air and ignoring the rules of physics as they see fit, Jackie's superman antics are nothing out of the ordinary.
Still, unlike many recent Jackie Chan films, where he alone has been required to carry a very thin plot, he has some sterling help carrying the very thin plot. The girl, whoever the hell she is, isn't much cop, but Lee Evans - when he's stopped "acting" and is being Lee Evans - does a top job. In fact, Lee Evans is the closest thing (without the Kung Fu, obviously) to a young Jackie Chan - maybe with a good dose of Norman Wisdom too.
Overall the film's watchable enough. The bad guy is a nonentity, the plot makes some sense, even if it's thinner than Daniella Westbrook's septum, the female "lead" is at least attractive - so she's not much use, but IS decorative - the kid isn't irritating at all and Lee Evans gives it a much-needed comedy ass-kicking.
The out-takes are funny too - what else would you expect?
Oh, and watch out for the bit where Jackie Chan single-handedly farts in the face of every John Woo movie ever, by finding a solution to the face-off dilemma... One true moment of genius.
Summary: Pap, but fun.
Once again, we get the feeling that Jackie isn't trusted at his age by the studios - he does some classic Chan, squeezing through bars (a la Rush Hour 2), climbing right-angles in walls (a la everything), but most of his action is wire-based. When he chases Giscard through the streets of Dublin, we'd expect lots of Chan-esque action/slapstick, but NO, he's hoisted on wires throughout.
And this somewhat ruins the premise slightly - Chan becomes a "superman" type figure nearer to the end. But since everyone is being lifted into the air and ignoring the rules of physics as they see fit, Jackie's superman antics are nothing out of the ordinary.
Still, unlike many recent Jackie Chan films, where he alone has been required to carry a very thin plot, he has some sterling help carrying the very thin plot. The girl, whoever the hell she is, isn't much cop, but Lee Evans - when he's stopped "acting" and is being Lee Evans - does a top job. In fact, Lee Evans is the closest thing (without the Kung Fu, obviously) to a young Jackie Chan - maybe with a good dose of Norman Wisdom too.
Overall the film's watchable enough. The bad guy is a nonentity, the plot makes some sense, even if it's thinner than Daniella Westbrook's septum, the female "lead" is at least attractive - so she's not much use, but IS decorative - the kid isn't irritating at all and Lee Evans gives it a much-needed comedy ass-kicking.
The out-takes are funny too - what else would you expect?
Oh, and watch out for the bit where Jackie Chan single-handedly farts in the face of every John Woo movie ever, by finding a solution to the face-off dilemma... One true moment of genius.
Summary: Pap, but fun.
