Rush Hour 3 — Everybody Loves Kung-Fu Fighting, Mu Shu and... Inspector Clouseau?
Written: Aug 15 '07 (Updated Aug 15 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good action and comedy
Cons: Chris Tucker is still annoying; Chan's stunts are a bit tame
The Bottom Line: Rush Hour 3 continues the trail of its predictable action-comedy way, but there's no denying the chemistry between Chan and Tucker.
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| elvisdo's Full Review: Rush Hour 3 |
Just when you thought the fastest hands from the East and the fastest mouth from the West couldn’t find another way to cause destruction and mayhem, Brett Ratner’s Rush Hour 3 proves otherwise. Chief Inspector Lee and Detective James Carter are back for round three as the dynamic duo have their hands full with the Chinese Triad.
Ambassador Han has been gunned down while giving a speech at the World Criminal Court. Soo Yung, the ambassador’s daughter, now grown up, is also in danger as well. The investigation by Lee and Carter leads follows a trail left by the assassin named Kenji to Paris, France. There they meet Genevieve, a woman who holds the secrets to the Triad, and one who is marked for death.
There is nothing new delivered by Rush Hour 3. Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker reprise their roles and pick up exactly where they left off from the previous two films. Chan’s isn’t as virile as he used to be, but one has to be impressed that this 53-year old actor can still do some amazing stunt work. Chris Tucker, however, is still just as loud and annoying as ever. There are times I wish I could hit the mute button throughout the movie.
But do they bring anything different to the film? The question is do you really want them to bring something different. Going into Rush Hour 3, I knew exactly what I was getting myself into by watching this movie. The plotline, humour, action, and chemistry between the actors… it was all predictable. However, it’s that predictability that allowed me to enjoy myself and not think about anything too much (the latter isn’t that hard of a feat to accomplish). I expected Chan to do the martial arts dance. I expected Tucker to be abrasive and in-your-face. I expected humour and action and nothing more. This is what was delivered and this is what I received. So was I disappointed? Not at all. There is something to be said about comfort food and that’s exactly what Rush Hour 3 is to me... a nice dim sum meal.
The “fish-out-water” technique is used yet once again. The first movie had Lee coming to America. The second had Carter in Hong Kong. So for the third, well, they were both out of their element as they traveled to Paris, France. The funny thing is how Lee blends more in France than Carter. Who knew there were so many Asians in Paris? It felt like Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for a second.
The ethnic stereotypes are ever present as well and the jokes that come out of it, though some of it feels forced. No one is safe. One in particular stands out when Carter says Asian men need to meet a height requirement in order to be called “a brother”, and then a few scenes later, they encounter a 7'9" Chinese man. And don’t get me started on the whole “Yu” and “Mi” scenario. It’s an old joke, it’s corny, yet it’s still remains funny. It just reminds me of another old joke regarding a person asking for Mr. Wing and Mr. Wong. In the end, he just happened to “Wing the Wong number”.
The film also follows a formulaic stream of events culminating to that final climatic, death-defying, action-filled, Jackie Chan scene. So how does it get bigger yet remain the same? A romp through the Eiffel Tower is a good start.
A couple of new elements were thrown into the mix (most notably the French cabbie) and it felt like the film started to lean towards the Lethal Weapon movies when fresh blood like Joe Pesci, Rene Russo and Chris Rock needed to be thrown in.
And let’s not forget the villains. As always, there is the assassin-type and the mastermind; one who is the trigger and one who pulls it. It’s not hard to guess who the villains are If you are familiar with the Rush Hour series.
This isn't rocket science. If you are looking for something thought-provoking, this isn’t the film for you. It’s meant as pure escapism and entertainment. I found it a lot better than the second movie as it follows more in line with the first. Still, nothing can really capture the magic that made Rush Hour a success, but Rush Hour 3 does a good job at being predictable.
Then again, if Brett Ratner follows the predictability formula, don’t be surprised if Rush Hour 4 pops up in the near future. That’s my prediction.
Related Reviews
Rush Hour 2
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**sniff, sniff. Do I smell my victory, millinocket, or was that your defeat? ;)
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
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Epinions.com ID:
elvisdo
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Member: Charles "The Grim One"
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Thank you to everybody who participated in both my write-offs. Until the next one!
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