Rush Hour 2, starring Jackie Chan (as Inspector Lee) and Chris Tucker (as Detective James Carter), is one sequel that is better than the original film. Directed by Brett Ratner, this action packed movie runs about an hour and a half long and is packed full of Jackie’s slap-stick martial arts comedy and more stunts and jokes than the first movie.

When I saw the original Rush Hour in the theaters, I loved it so much that I bought it on VHS as soon as it came out (sadly this was before I owned a DVD player). Upon seeing previews for the sequel I wasn’t sure to be happy or upset. I knew Jackie and Chris would be funny, but would it live up to the first movie? I was content to pass this movie up and wait until it came out on DVD, but when a friend and I had nothing to do, we decided to go see Rush Hour 2. I laughed so hard that my jaw hurt for a while after the movie ended!

The plot was nothing special, but I expected that. Jackie Chan has said in many interviews that a “Jackie Chan movie” always has a simple plot. Good guy vs Bad guy, but lots of amazing martial arts sequences and comedy. Gotta have the comedy. This movie takes place three days after the first movie. Carter is on vacation in Hong Kong, but ends up partnering up with Lee to take down an international crime ring lead by an old acquaintance of Lee (Steven Reign). The action also takes these two crime fighters to Las Vegas and Carter’s hometown of L.A. It’s a simple plot, but it was complex enough that it was interesting to follow.

The supporting cast included Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), John Lone, Alan King, Steven Reign, Philip Baker Hall and Roselyn Sanchez. Zhang Ziyis martial arts are as incredible as Jackie’s and they were sure to include plenty of it in this film. I was a little disappointed with the end to a certain fight scene that takes place between Zhang Ziyi and Chris Tucker in the Red Dragon Casino. I won’t give anything away though. You’ll just have to see what I’m talking about for yourself.

Who needs special effects when you have Jackie Chan? He pulls off amazing stunts all on his own and probably spends all his “special effects” money on hospital bills! There were plenty of explosions and a few other things here and there, but the bulk of the action came from the amazing choreography and photography of the fight scenes. Jackie sure knows how to pull off a great fight scene while keeping out any monotony. His slap-stick humor, he says, was inspired by classic actors like Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin and is evident in every fight. Something silly always happens during a fight like the use of odd items as weapons such as a trashcan or a towel.

The outtakes at the end of the movie, during the credits, showed many behind the scenes goof-ups by Jackie and Chris during the filming of the movie. I love how Jackie likes to put these in at the ends of his movies. They also show viewers how difficult (and sometimes painful) his stunts can be if he messes them up.

The soundtrack was good and did a great job setting the mood. Of course, there was the classic scene where they’re singing the Beach Boys in the car. Other artists include Ludacris, LL Cool J, Montell Jordan, Method Man and Macy Gray. There was one scene with Chris Tucker, singing some Kereoki at a gangster bar, which deserves an award for his hilarious performance.

I think a big reason Rush Hour 2 is better than the first is because it was a little less serious and was filled with more comedy. If you have already seen the first move, then the two main characters are already known to you and their relationship to each other doesn’t have to be established. Repeated jokes and references to events that occurred in the first movie are funnier. Even though the plot isn’t exactly top notch, it’s still amusing to see how close these two guys start to become. In the first movie, they wanted to have nothing to do with each other, but after all that they’ve been through together, they’re becoming the best of friends. They seem to act that way in real life too, so I’m sure their chemistry helps to draw the audience into these two characters.

Needless to say, I loved the movie and can’t wait until it comes out on DVD so I can watch it over and over again. I know not everyone liked Rush Hour for whatever reason, and so if you didn’t like the first, you’re not going to like the second. If you did like the first movie, then definitely see Rush Hour 2 because you’ll love this one. If there’s a Rush Hour 3 in the works, I’m definitely going to go see that one as well. Chan and Tucker have got me hooked!

[As much as I loved this movie, there are movies out there that I regard to be better than Rush Hour 2. Due to this, I can’t give this movie a solid 5 stars, so it will have to settle for a 4.]



Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older