Liberte, Egalite, and Plenty of Fraternite in France
The Popcorn Reel Movie Review: "Rush Hour 3"
By Omar P.L. Moore/August 9, 2007
Protecting and serving the ladies: Chris Tucker as LAPD detective Carter,
in perhaps a satirical play on the LAPD during the opening scenes of "Rush Hour
3", which opened at midnight in all U.S. time zones tonight in special
screenings. (All photos: Glen Wilson/New Line Cinema)
The late Edwin Starr might have sung, "plot - huah! - what is it good for? -
absolutely nothing" and he would have undoubtedly been referring to Brett
Ratner's "Rush Hour 3", which reunites Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan in this
mismatched cop-buddy action comedy. For who in the whole wide world is
really interested in the fact that some Triads are looking for something or
someone by the name of Shenshen, who or which contains the ancient -- well,
goodness knows what?
It's the characters, stupid -- and what has made the series and this new "Rush"
film so good is the genuine unforced comedy evolving from the partnership of its
two stars, international martial arts action megastar Chan and chronic funny-man
and laugh-a-second speed-speaker Tucker. "Lee! Lee!" is the constant
refrain when trouble and danger are present, and those words are coming from the
mouth of Detective Carter, with Inspector Lee hearing them loudly and clearly,
even if they aren't in his native language. This time neither of them is
in their element as France comes a-calling as they follow the exploits of the
Triads, who are up to no good.
Mr. Ratner's formula of flash, dash and fun works a charm on the third go round,
beginning with a very funny first five minutes contrasted with a Cain and Abel
moment. Jeff Nathanson's screenplay moves fast and the action faster.
"Rush Hour 3" demonstrates that the ladies are better at combat than our
bumbling male heroes, and the fairer sex's scripted lines always hit the mark, most
especially this one spoken by Jasmin (Youki Kudoh): "that's the thing I hate
about cops -- even when they're with a woman they're always thinking about
getting their man." (And if you don't believe what Jasmin says, just watch
films like Michael Mann's "Heat", a serious police drama -- or any other for
that matter -- but especially Mr. Mann's superb film.) "Rush Hour 3" isn't
superb, but it sparkles with abundant laughs, mainly from Tucker, and sometimes
from Chan, whose comedy comforts get better as this series goes on.
You go this way, and I go . . . Jackie Chan as Inspector Lee in Rush
Hour 3", directed by Brett Ratner. The film opened on Thursday night at
midnight.
It has been a six-year hiatus for the "Rush Hour" franchise, and unlike many
sequels (with the exception of "Live Free Or Die Hard") the time away does not
hurt the new film in any way. If anything, "Rush Hour 3" emerges sleeker,
fresher and more hip-holstered than before, with plenty of gunplay and
fore-gun-play. This sequel doesn't rely on an inordinate amount of gags
from the previous films, which is something that the majority of action sequels
lean on for safety's sake. The beauty of Mr. Ratner's latest "Rush" is
that it doesn't play things safe, and there are very few lulls.
In its own way "Rush Hour 3" is not unlike Mr. Mann's "Miami Vice", in that the
"plot" is not the object of the story -- the relationships are. Where in
the world are Lee and Carter going to end up today? One minute they are
ensconced in the familiarity of Los Angeles, the next, the two crime-fighters
have been jettisoned to Paris, where they get a rude awakening from none other
than Roman Polanksi, who makes a cameo appearance here as an Inspector Clouseau
type, except without the bumbling and with every purposeful design. Yvan
Attal has a very funny role as a local cabdriver whose rants about the
stereotypical Ugly American are amusing. He hates Americans so much you
would think that he actually secretly wants to be one. Noemie Lenoir also
turns up in the film, but as beautiful, sophisticated and as attractive as she is, she is also
somewhat of an enigma as Genevieve, a stage dancer for French theater.
An eyeful on the Eiffel: Youki Kudoh as Jasmin in "Rush Hour 3".
The film doesn't need the talents of Max Von Sydow, for by the time he truly
makes his presence felt, "Rush Hour 3" has sailed blissfully along, not only
unaware of its story flaws, but proud of them too. In film, a story isn't
required to be perfect, but if you are billing your film as a comedy, it had
better be a perfectly precise laugh-fest. Unforced and unfettered, the
comedy, character and choreography of "Rush Hour 3" are its strong points, as is
the smooth wardrobe for both stars. And when you get to the point where
your film can poke fun at itself, as "Rush Hour 3" does with parody
and some musical gags
to match a scene or two (including an Elton John number), it not only means that
you are comfortable, you are also confident.
If a fourth "Rush Hour" speeds this way, it will have to be even fresher -- and
harder-edged. While comedy sequels are a difficult animal, one which has
served the three "Rush" films extraordinarily well, the law of averages says
that sooner or later, the laughs might become a little less prolonged. For
now however, "Rush Hour 3" keep moving and laughing, and so will its audience.
"Rush Hour 3" opens across the U.S. and Canada on Friday, and opened at midnight
tonight in various special advance screenings in the U.S. The film is
rated PG-13 for sequences of action violence, sexual content, nudity and
language. The film's duration is one hour and 34 minutes.
Related: Yes Chris, We Can Hear The
Words That Are Coming Out Of Your Mouth!
Related: (Audio) Chris Tucker and Brett
Ratner Talk in "Rush" Bites
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