Features:
- Color
- Closed-captioned
- Widescreen
Description:
Directed by Brett Ratner, Rush Hour doesn't break any new ground in terms of story, stunts, or direction, but the casting of veteran action maestro Jackie Chan with the charming and often hilarious Chris Tucker as buddy cops was a serendipitous stroke of genius. Although Chan fans may be slightly disappointed by the lack of action set pieces that emphasize his kung fu craft, Rush Hour was the mainstream breakthrough that he had deserved for years. Coupled with the charismatic scene-stealer Tucker, Chan gets to flex his comic muscles to great effect. From their first scenes together to the trademark Chan outtakes during the end credits, their ability to play off of one another is a joy to behold, and this mischievous interaction is what saves the film from slipping into the depths of mediocrity. Rush Hour 2 is easily recommended to fans of its returning stars. The action--and there's plenty of it--starts in Hong Kong, where Detective Lee (Chan) and his L.A. counterpart Detective Carter (Tucker) are attempting a vacation, only to get assigned to sleuth a counterfeiting scheme involving a triad kingpin (John Lone), his lethal henchwoman (Zhang Ziyi, from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and an American billionaire (Alan King). Director Brett Ratner simply lets his stars strut their stuff, so it hardly matters that the plot is disposable, or that his direction is so bland he could've phoned it in from a Jacuzzi. At its best, Rush Hour 2 compares favorably to Chan's glossiest Hong Kong hits, and when the action moves to Las Vegas, the movie goes into high-pitched hyperdrive, riding an easy wave of ambitious stuntwork and broad, derivative humor. Rush Hour 2 is a palatable dish of mainstream comedy; it insults and comforts the viewer at the same time, and while some may find Tucker's relentless hamming unbearable, those who enjoyed Rush Hour are sure to appreciate another dose of Chan-Tucker lunacy.
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