“Rush Hour 3” (New Line Cinema)
Walk, Don’t Rush, To See This One
It is a rarity when a second sequel turns out to be as good as the original movie, and even more rare when it exceeds it in entertainment value. “The Borne Ultimatum” was the exception to the rule. “Rush Hour 3” is not. This third adventure starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker is only a pale shadow of the fun of the first one. It has its moments but overall it is a movie you don’t have to “rush” out to see.
As the movie opens James Carter (Tucker) is a street cop in Los Angeles. He is happily singing a song and directing traffic. His dream is to make up with his old friend Lee (Chan) and get back to solving crimes with him. The chance to do this comes when a man Lee is protecting is shot and Carter joins Lee in trying to capture the potential assassin. The man escapes but Carter and Lee are assigned the task of tracking him down. This takes them to Paris and eventually to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Along the way there is an opportunity for Carter to have some comic moments and even some romantic ones. He meets a woman named Genevieve (Noemie Lenoir) who might lead them to the person and the information they are seeking.
Tucker is a man with huge comic potential but it is only recognized and used sporadically in this film. Some of the routines in the movie are so old and so corny that the audience groans just hearing them. An example is a moment in which Carter is interrogating a man named Yu and a man named Mi. He of course confuses them with “you” and “me.” Real funny, ha ha!
Chan is lifeless and lethargic in the film. Maybe he is just upset that Tucker reportedly got a larger salary for the film than he. Or maybe he is just tired of doing the same fight sequences and basically the same role ad infinitum. Whatever the reason he does not carry his half of the entertainment weight in this movie.
Max Von Sydow and Roman Polanski have cameos in the movie and are okay. They don’t add much but they don’t detract either. Yvan Attal has a good spot as George the cab driver the investigating duo use in Paris. He is at first hostile to the “Americans” but then gets into the chases and danger they bring with them. He is a bright spot in a movie that can use all the help it can get.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
“Rush Hour 3” has its moments but the Chan/Tucker charisma is wearing thin. With its lack of spark this threequel should mark the end of this seemingly tired franchise. It was fun while it lasted but now it is time to hit the brakes.
I scored “Rush Hour 3” a slowed down 5 out of 10.
