RUSH HOUR 3
CAROLINE: Ladies and gentlemen, may we present “Rush Hour 3.” Not our first choice at the multiplex, but we saw it nonetheless.
RYAN: Now I know why Chris Tucker hasn’t been cast in any other movies since “Rush Hour 2” six years ago.
CAROLINE: I was all set to absolutely detest this movie, but I didn’t. Chris Tucker was mildly amusing to me, even though most of the jokes in this movie are pretty dumb in the vein of “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.” But Chris has a couple of good dancing and singing scenes that I enjoyed.
RYAN: Yeah, the dancing scenes were pretty good, and I especially liked the one in the Paris nightclub. But the action scenes were only OK; they don’t hold a candle to the other action films of the summer like “Live Free or Die Hard” or “The Bourne Ultimatum.” Jackie Chan is brilliant, but you can tell that all his action scenes are so choreographed.
CAROLINE: Don’t they have to be well choreographed though? I mean, the man is doing all his own stunts and he could die at any point.
RYAN: I guess I just wasn’t feeling the excitement compared to the other action flicks I’ve seen this summer.
CAROLINE: Maybe we just don’t care as much about Jackie Chan as we do about Bruce Willis and Matt Damon.
RYAN: Regardless, the humor in “Rush Hour 3” is offensive and dumb.
CAROLINE: Most of the scenes that are meant to be funny are not. But maybe it was just us, because plenty of people in the theater were laughing. I myself laughed twice. And yes, I did keep count.
RYAN: There is one really funny scene with a nun.
CAROLINE: My favorite part of the movie was probably the credits. There are some really funny outtakes that show Jackie Chan struggling with his English that are so endearing and cute, and there are some great action bloopers too. So be sure to stay for the credits.
RYAN: I think Jackie Chan does a better American accent in this movie than Anne Hathaway does an English accent in “Becoming Jane.”
CAROLINE: [laughs’ Definitely.
RYAN: Bottom line?
CAROLINE: Look – I don’t think I’m the target audience for this movie; I didn’t see the first two films, and I’m not particularly a fan of either Jackie Chan or Chris Tucker. Having said that, “Rush Hour 3” was not a complete waste of time. The action scenes are fun, and there is undeniable chemistry between Jackie and Chris. And if you want to see some cool shots of Paris, there are plenty in this film, including a scene shot on the very balcony where Carrie Bradshaw stood by the Eiffel Tower in the series finale of “Sex and the City.”
RYAN: OK, you’ve got 11 bucks in your pocket and you want to see an action movie – “Rush Hour 3” or “The Bourne Ultimatum”?
CAROLINE: Well duh – clearly “The Bourne Ultimatum.”
RYAN: Thank you. My bottom line is that action scenes are fun, but the story is stupid and predictable, and overall, it’s an underwhelming film for me compared to how great other movies have been in recent months.
CAROLINE: Fine, but I don’t think people are expecting anything new from this franchise. It’s a broad comedy, it’s summer fun and it doesn’t try to be anything it isn’t. I’m sure it’ll do well at the box office, but it’s not going to get you thinking like a Bourne film will.