The TV Addict 

I can’t say I’m surprised that an English language, Hollywood produced, written, and directed, major motion picture would dilute the promising awesomeness of Jet Li and Jackie Chan finally appearing together in a film. I can say I’m disappointed though, because on some level I naively deluded myself into at least having hope. Thankfully though the film wasn’t a complete wash, it just wasn’t all it could and should have been.

The most persistent complaint the film has gotten (and one I’m going to attach myself to) is that neither Jet Li nor Jackie Chan are the central protagonists. Instead, we’re forced to view this mystical, fantastical martial arts film through the much more North American friendly (you can’t see it, but I’m rolling my eyes right about now) perspective of a young white boy living in the present with an encyclopedic knowledge of kung-fu films, who gets transported back into time (or another reality, who knows?) where he gets a crash-course lesson in kung-fu, takes to it quickly, and winds up being the prophesized hero everyone believes him to be. Most importantly, he learns how to stand up for himself, and other such trite Disney-type lessons. What is the prophecy? He’s meant to bring a magical staff to the Monkey King. In other words, he’s a glorified courier service. A less than thrilling narrative, with barely there sub-plots involving assassins, and even a romantic love interest for the hero.

Inspired by the main character, Jason’s, love of kun-fu, the film also immerses itself in Asian mythology, and allusions and slight homages to classic martial arts films and motifs. Sadly, my knowledge of both are limited, so I only caught the most obvious homages (for example, Chan effectively reprises his DRUNKEN MASTER role here). Maybe those who know more can get more out of the film, but even I personally did, I think I would have much rather have had a straight up serious martial arts film, rather than one trying to piece itself together out of homages to other ones.

Then again, in many ways I wasn’t watching this film for its story. I was watching it for Jet Li and Jackie Chan, and in that area it got things right. The two actors clearly had a blast working together here, obviously relishing the characters antagonism towards each other and deriving a lot of great, silly humor from it. Heck, they even got Jet Li to laugh out loud for a long time (which is actually a rather unsettling sight, given how I’m used to him being super-serous in his films) and even make a scene involving him peeing on Chan hilarious. As for the inevitable fight, well the moment the two superstars began fighting goose-bumps formed up and down my arm, even if part of me mourned how much more exiting the scene might have been when the two were at their prime in the 90s. Still, no use crying over spoilt milk, especially when we get well choreographed fights here. In fact, the fight sequences are what do stand out in the film, and they are decidedly above-par for a Hollywood martial arts film which tend to water-down the abilities of its Asian stars (see, well, any of Jet Li’s or Jackie Chan’s American films).

That’s the film’s problem in the end though. It’s moderately entertaining in its story, but it’s only in its actions sequences where it shines, which resulted in me spending most of my time impatiently wondering when the silly story would finally give away to another fight sequence. Jet Li and Jackie Chan deserved better. Let’s hope they don’t wait a long time to work again, and make their next film in Asia.

Overall rating: B-