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Rush Hour 2 (2001) by Taulec
Taulec's Rating: **** out of *****
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for action violence, language and some sexual material
Genre: Action/Crime/Comedy
Runtime: 90 minutes
Directed by: Brett Ratner
Screenplay: Jeff Nathanson
Cast:
Zhang Ziyi -- Hu Li
Jackie Chan -- Chief Inspector Lee
Chris Tucker -- Detective James Carter
Jon Lone -- Ricky Tan
Don Cheadle -- Kenny, Crenshaw's Chinese Soul Food
Overview
Rush Hour was a rare and pleasant surprise in early Fall of 1998. It was a new kind of buddy movie, one that did not involve a Caucasian in any major part. The simple, but relatively strong story for the genre included mostly "minority" characters. It also poked fun at race relations and stereotypes. This was a brilliant and purposeful move of director Brett Ratner. It pleased audiences and made new fans of Jackie Chan.
Rush Hour 2 succeeds in topping Rush Hour in many ways. While the story is a bit weaker, the pacing is tighter and more interesting, as are the ballet of fight scenes that Jackie is known for. Chris Tucker adds what I would call "irritating" charm to the pot. Although some can't stand his brand of humor, I always find him funny and a bit ingenious. Together, Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan make what I consider the best buddy cop franchise ever. The best part of all is that Zhang Ziyi is in Rush Hour 2.
Both are among my favorite movies of all time, even if they aren't necessarily the best movies of all time.
Plot
Picking up almost right where Rush Hour left us, Rush Hour 2 begins with Inspector Lee and Detective Carter supposedly on vacation in Hong Kong. All Carter wants is some mushu, but Lee cannot take a break from his work. When Lee learns that the American Embassy in Hong Kong has been bombed and two Americans killed, Lee is off on the tail of the pyromaniac Hu Li and triad leader Ricky Tan, suspected of masterminding the bombing. Carter is a long for the ride, whether he wants to be or not--through triad bars, massage parlors, and Las Vegas Casinos.
Filmmaking
Brett Ratner is a relatively new director who made the jump from music videos in the late 90's. He is a director with promise, certain talent, and varied style. He can turn out something like Rush Hour 2, and then work on Red Dragon. He might end up being another David Fincher, who is a brilliant director. It's obvious that Ratner works hard for every scene, and he earns it. His shots are well put together and fresh, and he keeps a good handle on Chris Tucker's personality while encouraging Jackie Chan. He's also the one that expanded Zhang Ziyi's role, so kudos to him on that.
The fight choreography of Jackie Chan is good as always, a bit more kinetic than his more recent movies. Brett Ratner let's Jackie play around a lot, never dominating and always learning.
I also like how Ratner makes a movie that doesn't need a strong, I will save the day white guy...a movie like this proves that a movie with minority leads can make money. Hopefully it'll open up new doors for struggling actors. Not that I'm against white guys, being one myself, but it's nice to see the change. Hopefully they'll be more female Asian action stars....
Memorable scenes: Jackie fighting his way up bamboo scaffolding while Tucker takes the stairs. The girls of the massage parlor. The fight in the massage parlor. The madcap fight over Hu Li's detonating device in the Las Vegas casino.
Acting
Besides some technical aspects, Rush Hour 2 isn't an award winning movie as far as acting goes. Nor is it meant to be. Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are comfortable in their roles and excel in carrying the movie. Zhang Ziyi does a really good job with a character that was originally meant to be one-dimensional.
Zhang Ziyi: First in line because this is her forums. Her character was written intentionally as a one-dimensional villain. It wasn't even written for a woman at first, until Brett Ratner decided that he wanted this very talented woman in his cast. Despite the limitations given to her character, Zi does really well with it. She convincingly plays herself as a bad guy, even inventing a twisted, impish little grin that's different from her usual radiant smile in her other movies. Her eyes really have depth, and paying close attention to them, she convincingly makes her character sly and intelligent, even if she is a pyromaniac. She brings a lot of physicality to the role and even reprises her sword goddess mystique towards the end of the film. The ending of her character is a little perplexing to me, but the writers were probably trying to figure out what to do with a character that was originally nothing more than a glorified extra. I personally don't think that Hu Li would have been knocked out by that spear in the fight with Carter....
Jackie Chan: His English gets better with every movie, something he doesn't credit himself enough with. His strength is in his physical deliverance and he does this well. He makes his character likeable and interesting. His Buster Keaton like martial arts ability is so legendary that I don't think it needs to be commented on.
Chris Tucker: My man, Chris...this guy is funny. I remember watching his stand up on HBO. He's definitely not for everyone, but he is likeable. He's such a great guy in real life, and it really shows through in his acting. He's the counter point to Jackie's physicality...his humor and brashness being his strengths.
Jon Lone: This is a guy that I liked from The Shadow, an overlooked movie in my opinion. He played Genghis Khan in that, and he plays a character with similar ambitions in Rush Hour 2. He makes a good bad guy, although it's obvious that his acting talents are above the role given to him.
Don Cheadle: This guy is cool. He really wanted to be in the movie with Jackie, so Brett Ratner tailor made a scene for him. He practiced his Cantonese lines all night, and pronounced them nearly perfectly for the scene the next day. Unfortunately, the only other movies I've seen him in have him playing the token black guy.
Hong Kong Massage Parlor Girls: Thank you for making a scene that's worthy of rewinding and pausing....
Favorite Lines
Since this is basically a huge one liner movie....
Lee: This is my land. Here, *I* am Michael Jackson and *you* are Toto.
Carter: You mean Tito! Toto is what we ate for dinner last night!
Carter: Lee, let me introduce you to Carter's new theory of criminal investigation: follow the rich white man.
[During a fight scene with a bunch of Chinese men]
Carter: [after accidentally punching Lee] Sorry, man!
Lee: Carter!
Carter: All y'all's look alike!
[Carter tried to pick up two girls in Chinese]
Carter: All I did was invite them to have a drink.
Lee: You invited them to get naked and sacrifice a small goat.
Carter: Which word was 'goat'?
Lee: That's Ricky Tan.
James Carter: That's Ricky Tan? Man, that's a midget in a bathrobe.
Carter: [To Lee at a massage parlor] Lee, you never step in front of a black man at a buffet line.
James Carter: Don't be messing with me, Lee. I will kick your ass. I'll hit you so hard you'll end up in the Ming Dynasty.
James Carter: How come you ain't got no black people performing in this casino? We ain't good enough for you?
Pit Boss: We got Lionel Ritchie!
James Carter: Lionel Ritchie ain't been black since the commodores!
[About to fight Hu Li]
James Carter: I'm gonna pretend you a man. A very beautiful man with a great body that I'd like to take to the movies.
The Bottom Line
I assume that a lot of you guys have seen this movie. If not, you'd better see it now. It's a fun and entertaining movie that I'd recommend to everyone, except maybe kids under 12. Plus, it has Zi in it being bad to the bone.
Taulec's Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Discussions
Are you a fan of Zhang Ziyi and/or her films and would like to contribute a fan review?
If so, then please feel free to post your review in a new discussion topic in Zhang Ziyi Films.
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