For nearly two decades, Jackie Chan built a film resume that made him one of the top action stars in Hong Kong. Even though his work had gained notice in the US, Chan did not star in a mainstream American release until "Rumble In The Bronx," a 1996 action caper where Chan finds himself up against two different gangs. Chan stars as Keung, a Hong Kong cop on vacation to attend the wedding of his Uncle Bill (Bill Tung). Bill is a grocer who's about to sell his business so he can buy his bride, Whitney (Carrie Cain Sparks), a ranch. Along the way, Keung makes some friends quickly, including Danny (Morgan Lam), Bill's disabled neighbor, and Elaine (Anita Mui), the grocery's new owner. After Bill and Whitney wed, Keung stays to finish the grocery transaction and help Elaine a bit in the store. Bill and Whitney leave their apartment to him.
 
Keung also learns he can makes enemies just as quickly. One night, he stops some drag racing on his street as two local gangs ride their motorcycles across the tops of the cars. The next day, the local gang leader, Tony (Marc Akerstream) and his gang to pay a visit to Elaine's store. Keung rises to the challenge and fights the gang, breaking the nose of Tony's top thug, Angelo (Garvin Cross). After the store closes for the night, the gang sets a trap for Keung. The trap starts when Tony's girlfriend, Nancy (Francoise Yip), plays the role of damsel in distress. After Keung beats up several men around Nancy, he learns that Tony, Angelo, and the rest of the gang are waiting for a measure of revenge. Once they get it, Keung struggles back to his complex, where Danny spots him and calls on his sister to help. His sister, it is learned, is Nancy. She then sees Keung in a new light, and Keung has similar thoughts.

Meanwhile, the rebels without a clue discover some crooks who are tougher than they are. Some diamond thieves try to fence their stolen jewels, but find criminals who want free jewels. They kill the thieves, but Angelo happens upon the scene and grabs the diamonds before the killers. Angelo eludes them long enough to stash them in a place that threatens almost everyone else in the film. Just as Angelo loves five-finger discounts, a syndicate kingpin named White Tiger (Kris Lord) wants his discount at any cost. Keung eventually learns the location of Angelo's stash, but not before Tony, Angelo, and Nancy are kidnapped and held for ransom. White Tiger even has his men destroy the market to show he means business about the diamonds. Keung, though, has contacted New York's finest, and works with them in an effort to stop White Tiger.

"Rumble In The Bronx" is not about story or acting, as much of these aspects are laughable. For example, the gangs race motorcycles with numbers on them, as if they were competing in a legitimate race. When one of White Tiger's men is ordered to clean up a mess with a wrecked car, he throws a live grenade in the vehicle. In spite of Uncle Bill encouraging Keung to speak English, one can clearly see that the Hong Kong actors are not. As a law and order man, Keung is about both, and even boldly walks into Tony's gang hangout and denounces everybody as "scum." The movie is about the rapid-fire action sequences that make it entertaining. They are both creative and captivating. Chan, as Keung, makes use of both his physical skill and his surroundings in order to deal with his adversaries, both big and bigger. Chan, who also received credit as stunt coordinator, creates sequences that defy credibility, yet flow smoothly. The movie brought Chan to a North American location for the first time in a leading role, with Vancouver serving as the setting of the Bronx. In addition to Tung and Mui, who worked in other films with Chan, Stanley Tong, who has been known to test some of Chan's stunts personally, is the man behind the camera on this effort, keeping the pace fast and lively.

"Rumble In The Bronx" is equal parts ludicrous and fun. This film served its purpose - to make Chan better known to American audiences. A man comes to New York to attend a wedding, but he has to make time for more than just a celebration. Some of New York's toughs have decided to make trouble in his uncle's neighborhood. Keung is the one who stands up to the trouble, with both words and fighting skills. With a little help from the authorities, he shows a couple of gangs that they chose the wrong place to rumble.

This is an entry in the 2009 Canadiana Write-Off hosted by elvisdo. For a list of rules and entries, please click here: http://www.epinions.com/content_5327790212

This also is an entry in the Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting Write-Off hosted by talyseon. For a list of rules and entries, please click here: http://www.epinions.com/content_5327921284
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Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older