TAGLINE: The classic western gets a kick in the pants
I must admit that I didn�t really have high hopes for this film. I am so glad I was wrong. I saw three comedies today, and this east-meets-west tale was one of the better ones. It starts out a bit slow, but quickly picks up the pace and doesn�t stop.
The year is 1881 and Jackie Chan is an imperial guard in Forbidden City, China. The princess has been kidnapped and he, with three more chosen guards, is sent to Carson City to bring her back safely. It all seems like a simple enough plan, but enter Owen Wilson�s Roy and his bumbling band of outlaws. They try to rob the same train that the imperial guards are, and, due to the stupidity of one of Roy�s sidekicks, all goes awry. Eventually Jackie Chan meets up with some Native Americans, then again with Roy, and all hilarity breaks loose, along with some very impressive martial arts sequences. I�m kind of skimping on the details, but I don�t want to give away all the fun. This is a movie you have to see for yourself to enjoy.
Sure this may all sound like Rush Hour all over again, but this is a film that holds all on its own. A delightful blend of martial arts/western/comedy, this is a film that delivers the entertainment. Even if you do not enjoy westerns or kung-fu movies, you can still have fun with this movie. It is meant to be a comedy, and it is. Unlike some other films out there at the moment, this one is actually funny. The jokes, the chemistry, and the overall appeal actually work. If you give this a chance, you will really enjoy it.
