RUSH HOUR 2
Released: August 2, 2001
Now, clearly neck and neck in the sequels that didn't need to be made contest with "Jurassic Park III" is the second in the buddy cop comedy series starring the multi-talented Jackie Chan and relative newcomer stand up comedian Chris Tucker. Where "Rush Hour" (1998) was fun and exciting, "Rush Hour 2" is simply like a patchwork of outtakes from the original, only not as good. Having said that, I still did laugh at a large portion of this sequel. The chemistry, if you can call it that, between Chan (who can barely understand or speak English) and Tucker (what the hell language IS he speaking?) is nothing like Riggs and Murtaugh as played by Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the "Lethal Weapon" series. So, rather than spend time getting to know these two wacky buddy cops we are given just enough taste of some obscure crime that both Chan and Tucker feel compelled to follow from China to Las Vegas to investigate. Forget the character development, forget the plot - it's the odd goofy scene of interaction between the two stars along with Chan's amazing stunts that drives "Rush Hour 2". Tucker also has a few good moves in this second installment but it's clearly Chan that shines as the action star who seemingly defies gravity and physics. Director Brett Ratner could have served his movie better by toning down Tucker, who is no Chris Rock by any stretch of the imagination. I don't deny he's talented but he just gets annoying after a while. It isn't bettered by the fact his dialogue is peppered with so much racism as well. He slams whites AND Chinese, which is oddly acceptable to practice if you're black yet imagine the PC explosion that'd be seen if it were a white character making racial jabs at African Americans or Chinese people. Rumor has it Chan took home a much smaller paycheck than Tucker, another oddity considering Tucker's star power has not truly been proven yet. All that aside, "Rush Hour 2" is perfect no-brainer Summertime film viewing.
100 Minutes
New Line/Warner Bros.