Hey folks, Harry here with that grumpy Chi-Town bastage with more muscle than that guy from Brussels... I am, of course, referring to Capone... that Canadian Whiskey-smuggling bat-carrying critic who'll reach out and touch the untouchables. But what's this? He likes RUSH HOUR 2? His grinch heart had room for Tucker and Chan in it? Well folks, I suppose this must be entertaining as hell then. We'll see this weekend...
Hey, Harry. Capone in Chicago here with my brief but to the point review of RUSH HOUR 2.
As much as I love to hear (or see) myself talk, I’m going to keep this one short and sweet. RUSH HOUR 2 is a better movie than the highly entertaining first film. The key to this is Jackie Chan’s much more relaxed performance. He’s still kicking major tushie as Hong Kong Det. Lee, but he’s no longer simply playing the super serious straight man to Chris Tucker’s over-the-top L.A. hipper-( and louder) than-thou Det. Carter. Chris is still very funny here, don’t get me wrong, but he doesn’t get all the best lines anymore. Jackie is a full-fledged comic partner in RUSH HOUR 2. When Jackie says to Tucker, "I'm going to bitch slap your black ass back to Africa," how can you not bust a gut?
Story? Who cares?! There’s something about laundering counterfeit money at a Las Vegas casino, but so what? The most important thing is that there’s a fight scene at least every 12 mintues. Even Tucker (or at least his stunt double) gets to do a little chop socky. Sure there are plot holes, but what kind of moron goes to a Jackie Chan movie looking for plot? The outtakes during the end credits are fantastic. CROUCHING TIGER’s Zhang Ziyi is cute as an angry button as the villain’s (M. BUTTERFLY’s John Lone) main muscle. Don Cheadle and Jeremy Piven have great cameos. What’s not to like? And the movie never ever references the first film, so you don’t have to go see RUSH HOUR to appreciate RUSH HOUR 2. What else do you need? Go see it for great action, lots of laughs, and a short 90-minute running time.
By the way, I'm seeing a benefit screening of APOCALYPSE NOW REDUX tonight, and I'm trembling in anticipation. Somebody hold me.
Capone (Capone@aintitcoolmail.com)
