Did you enjoy the first Rush Hour? If so, then by all means, run out and see this flippin' flick! If, however, you were lukewarm to the original, or you downright hated it, then don't bother with this one.
But then, that's the way with all movie sequels, isn't it?
The premise? Chris Tucker's character, Carter, and Jackie Chan's character, Lee, are in Hong Kong. Carter, you see, is on vacation and just looking for a good time. The problem, we find out as the movie opens, is that Lee just keeps dragging him into his other cases instead of showing him around town so he can get jiggy with some of the nice ladies of the city.
The movie shifts to a couple of venues showing Lee tricking Carter into believing they're going somewhere for a good time when it's really just Lee trying to get further in one particular case that we're introduced to: a case against the Triads (who else?). Some laughs are made, some actions sequences are executed, one talented woman is underused, and then we find ourselves rushed (pardon the pun) to Los Angeles, and then to Vegas, as the plot thickens and is eventually resolved, amid some more funnies and fight scenes.
Let's start with what's good and then move on to what's bad. One thing is that Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan both have great chemistry together. It's fun watching these two play off eachother, despite the culture and language differences. Also, the culture shock is an amusing thing, too, as many jokes are made at Asians as well as Carter's ignorance of the place he's in.
Yes, I admit it, I enjoy a good Asian joke. But then, I also enjoy a good Italian joke, or a good Canadian joke, so I at least know how to laugh at myself as well as others. Anyway, it's none of it done in a meanspirited fashion. Plus, I have a friend who enjoys Asian jokes too, makes them often enough, and he's Asian. So, I have a very tolerant group of friends with which to play off of.
Enough of me defending myself. Good thing number two is that the action scenes are fun. There are some decent stunts (though I'd like to know how much of that was actually Chris Tucker), and a lot of comedy thrown into the mix.
Good thing number three is that it had Zhang Ziyi in it. Outside of being positively gorgeous, she's a fabulous martial artist to boot (re: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).
Which leads me to the bad things spot. Bad thing number one is that Zhang Ziyi is underused. No, wait, that's wrong. She's GROSSLY underused. I don't even know why she's here. They may as well have used an unknown actress for that role, it was that small. It wasn't insignificant, but there just wasn't anything to do. All she really gets to do is kick people in the face when they're not expecting it, and we ALL know that she's capable of a lot more than just that.
Number two is that there weren't very many fights, and only one fight was really impressive: in the massage parlour (y'know, the one where Tucker hits Jackie in the face and says in apology "Ooh, y'all look alike!"). That's not to say that it was slow, it just wasn't action-packed enough for me (and the story didn't hold me enough, either, but in this kind of movie the story is an excuse for fights and stunts).
Thing number three? They leave Hong Kong waaaaaay too soon. I was expecting more culture shock from Tucker's side of things. I would have enjoyed more of him being a fish out of water. But instead, they leave Hong Kong not even half-way through the movie. And seeing as the ads for it have nothing about them being in America, it's very dissapointing. For me.
Am I saying that it wasn't bad? No. But it wasn't great, either. I was only lukewarm to the original Rush Hour, so I was more or less lukewarm to this one. But, again, if you thought the original was fabulous, then you'll likely think that this one was better. It's all perspective.
For the record, this didn't convert me.