Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker have made another appearance on the big screen again as a promising new action-comedy tag team flashing their combination of catlike moves and quick-on-the-uptakes craziness in “Rush Hour 2,” currently playing at theaters.
Chan returns as inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and is again paired up with Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker), but instead of just dancing around L.A. they pick up right where “Rush Hour” left off. This is a different approach to the story since a sequel usually takes place at a later time. This one practically kicks off with Carter and Chan stepping off the plane.
The pair switches locations this time as they duet to the Beach Boys in Lee’s car. After working some Hong Kong crimes on Carter’s vacation, the two wind up facing a Chinese triad run by Lee’s father’s former partner, Ricky Tan, played by two-time Golden Globe winner John Lone.
Chan is assisted in his pursuit empire by the cunning and very stunning Isabella Molina, played by Roselyn Sanchez, who landed a starring role in the hit TV series “Fame L.A.” Lone’s right hand is the vicious assassin Hu Li, played by Zhang Ziyi, who landed a co-starring role in director Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” Her martial arts skills along with Chan’s make the prospect of a street fight between the two rather tantalizing.
Director Bret Ratner makes his leap into Hollywood with a fresh new punch after filming over one hundred music videos. Ratner received an MTV VMA for Best Video in 1999 for his success with Madonna’s “Beautiful Stranger.” His other films include “Money Talks” and “Family Man.”
The film’s story deals with a Chinese smuggling-triad shipping counterfeit money into the U.S, specifically Los Angeles. Here the story relocates and this switch actually lends to the story.
Chan and Tucker play their detective game as well as can be expected and the result isn’t disappointing. As they dive into the final act, the pair make their way to Las Vegas where the final confrontation takes place.
The movie has some good points and Chan’s own stunts are impressive as always. The film could have used a little more action. Tucker makes the audience laugh but his typical one-liners can get tiring. They do get the audience laughing when the pair tries their hand at karaoke. Chan leaves his famous blooper reel calling card at the end.
This sequel is worth seeing and has a decent plot. Sanchez has the sex appeal in this one. If you like Chan’s Kung-Fu clowning and Tucker’s Beginner’s Chinese screw-ups then give this film a try. It’s worth the admission price for an hour and forty minutes of down time.
Grade: B