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Fresh off the Marmite reviews of X-Men: The Last Stand, Brett Ratner returned to the franchise he has had more than just a bit part in creating. In fact, the Floridian has directed all three of the Rush Hour films, you know, that bizarre series which contains the filmic hybrid of martial arts, quick fire minstrel comedy, and buddy movie action adventure featuring the modern Bruce Lee and Chris "I've-only-starred-in-one-film-in-six-years-but-still-demand-a-$20,000,000-against-20%-payday!" Tucker.
New Line's effort possibly epitomises the definition of a bubblegum flick - flurries of flavour but instantly forgettable. From the textbook premise, which is incidentally incredibly similar to its predecessors, Rush Hour 3 is never going to be a classic threequel in the same light as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade or even Goldfinger. When Carter (Tucker) and Lee (Chan) get themselves involved in the business of the Chinese Triad, the plot about protecting the Chinese ambassador's daughter, Soo Yung (Jingchu Zhang's pathetic exertion at acting is uncomfortable to watch) isn't necessarily nonsensical, just a bore. After all, the seriousness of the high-flying Chan is always cancelled out by Tucker by default, that is the whole point to this series of films - comic relief from the Georgian in between the stunts of the insanely unique Hong Kong kung fu master. It is just a shame then that the filmmakers couldn't have fused a decent storyline into the action - von Sydow and Sanada are extremely two-dimensional because of a lack of depth, and Lenoir is as stiff and non-expressive as one of her struts down the catwalk.
The chemistry between Tucker and Chan is still present, but like Soderbergh's Ocean's Twelve, it seems as if the stars are having more fun making the film than we are watching. Jokes still flow however - Lance Armstrong and Barry Bonds jokes are hilarious - and Roman Polanski's cameo in particular will bring about a chuckle. Other highlights include the opening Dirty Harry-like grandiloquent and overbearing funky beats, and Ratner captures Los Angeles and Paris fittingly, but the film just lacks sparkle.
The summary
Uninspired and unoriginal, Rush Hour 3 is something you shouldn't dash to see. Watch the first or even the second for a superior time.
