Let’s look back at an action-comedy about two polar opposites. One from China and the other from America. Join forces to investigate a kidnapping of a diplomat’s daughter. The Premise I’m referring to is none other than “Rush Hour.” Released in 1998, (same year Lethal Weapon 4 came out) It received positive reviews from critics is and became a box office success. Rush Hour spawned two sequels and a short-lived television series of the same name without its two main leads from the movies. No wonder it got cancelled without its main ingredients.
Due to the upcoming release of “The Lego Ninjago Movie,” I’ve decided to review Rush Hour as this was the movie that introduced American audiences to Jackie Chan, even though he’s already famous in China, this was the film that propelled him to partake in American movies. Also, Jet Li in “Lethal Weapon 4.” When I was a kid, I used to watch Rush Hour all the time.
This review doesn’t contain SPOILERS.
Good & Bad Qualities
Good: Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker both did an excellent job for their respective performances as Lee & Carter.
Other Cast Members such as Elizabeth Peña, (Mirage from The Incredibles) Phillip Baker Hall, Chris Penn (Eddie from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas) & Tom Wilkinson (Carmine Falcone from Batman Begins) all did a great job for their respective performances.
Brett Ratner did a solid job directing.
Note from 2023: Brett is a big fat meanie in real life. I’m only praising him as a director, not a nice person.
Chemistry between the duo serves as the main highlight.
The Tone is a mix between seriousness and comedy, handled very carefully as a hybrid genre. For example, both Lee & Carter have unique introductions involving their careers as detectives.
Action Sequences and stunts are naturally fast paced, especially Jackie doing his own stunts without a body double. He took a lot of effort coordinating all the action. He’s like a real-life Spider-Man without the radioactive/genetically engineered spider bite. He gets Bonus Points for having the guts to endure injuries.
Fun Fact: Rush Hour inspired Senh Doung to create the movie review website, Rotten Tomatoes. He’s also a huge Jackie Chan fan.
Practical Effects were heavily used throughout the entire duration for the film. No C.G.I. was added after Post-Production, plain and simple. Again, Jackie did all his stunts.
Pacing didn’t feel like a drab.
Lee’s case is connected to his personal life.
The song “War” is played when Lee & Carter sing and dance together. It was also featured in “Small Soldiers.” Both movies came out the same year. The latter’s one of my guilty pleasures growing up. I miss my childhood.
One scene shows Carter dancing to Jay-Z’s “Can I Get A…” Chris Penn appeared in a music video as a bartender. I’m giving this movie credit for introducing me to Jay-Z along with Mariah Carey. I forgot to mention her song, “Fantasy” was used in one scene.
Funny Moments contain memorable dialogue, got me laughing out loud uncontrollably. As in this line. “Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?!” When I was a kid, a lot of jokes went over my head. Nowadays, I understood the risqué jokes.
Carter’s a Michael Jackson fan. Chris was a close friend of MJ. They appeared in the music video “You Rock My World.”
Clifton Powell (Big Smoke from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas) makes a brief appearance as Carter’s cousin.
A wallet and police badge made me laugh so hard.
The best line from Carter is this bit. “$50 million dollars?” “Who you think you kidnapping, Chelsea Clinton.” Every time somebody brings up $50 million dollars, I have to reenact that quote.
An unexpected part got me laughing really hard with a kid cussing in the middle of a very important scene.
One character mentioned John Wayne. Jackie went on to play a character named, Chon Wang (rhymes like John Wayne) in “Shanghai Noon” and its sequel, “Shanghai Knights.” I want a third movie with Jackie and Owen Wilson so badly.
I’m not gonna lie, a Dr. Phil look-alike has a supporting role along with a discount version of Ed Harris with hair.
Outtakes/Bloopers are shown during the End Credits with the cast having a fun time making this movie without any on set problems like Christian Bale yelling at a crew member on the set of “Terminator: Salvation” or Russell Crowe acting like a male diva.
Bad: Product Placement featuring brands such as Miller Lite, United Airlines & Pepsi. Thank goodness there wasn’t too many brands. If Michael Bay directed it, I would’ve given this con a point down.
Certain Buddy Cop cliches are often used for pivotal plot points like a “temporary break-up” in Act 3.” I’m letting this con slide, because I was fully invested in Lee & Carter’s chemistry.
The Final Verdict: A, FOR APEX!
As a kid I used to watch Rush Hour all the time on VHS. I still like it. I hope a fourth movie becomes a reality. In the words of Captain Picard. “Make it so.”
Nickthemoviecritic.com 