Rush Hour 3

It's a sad day for the movie club folks. For the first time in...well ever actually, I'm going to disagree with Symon.

I didn't like this film, and that upset me because I was so looking forward to it.

There are a lot of funny scenes in the film, the Yu and Mi one in particular is inspired lunacy. The interrogation with the translating nun is funny, but I got the impression it had been filmed a lot of different ways and the producer then chose the one he liked best. And Tucker and Chan singing in the nightclub had be in stitches.

So if I found all that funny, why then did I not enjoy the film? I think the problem with the film is that it's not sure if it wants to be a comedy film, an action film, a buddy film, or something in between. There's plenty of scenes with all out pant wettingly-good comedy, and plenty with all out full throttle action. Yet rarely do the two meet. The car chase scene is one example, the only example that springs to mind.

In order to out-do the last film, the two heroes have to be pitted against a bigger and badder foe, in this case the Triads. Yet in order to ensure they don't get killed in the first ten minutes, the Triads they encounter are portrayed as the most inept bunch of gibbering morons who ever lived. These guys couldn't hit the broad side of a barn even if you held the gun for them and all they had to do was pull the trigger, and for a group who we're told in the opening minutes of the film are the most dangerous and ruthless criminal organisation in the world, this just gets on my nerves really quickly. The film also relies on the audience remembering certain elements from the last film, and since that film was made back in 2001, that's really stretching most people's memories. It's been six years since we last saw Detective Carter and Chief Inspector Lee. How about a freakin' flashback or two? Personally I think the franchise peaked with Rush Hour 2, and the fact it's taken this long to get a sequel kind of shows that. IMDB's trivia section is replete with examples of the dropped plots, actors, and re-writes necessary to get this film made.

I was dismayed to read yesterday on Yahoo Movies that Rush Hour 3 has knocked The Bourne Ultimatum off the top slot in the US. I remember thinking at the time: How? Rush Hour 3 has managed to break Rush Hour 2's record for an opening weekend takings, standing at a staggering $68 million. Bourne only took about $38 million. Why? Why would people chose to watch a mindless action-comedy sequel over a thought provoking, intelligent spy film? Why would Americans chose to watch a mindless actio-.... Ahh. Answered my own question there, I see.

Score: D+
I didn't like it, and only the occasional comedy moments saved it from a D-

OQ1: I don't know what you been feedin' that boy, but he is TOO DAMN BIG!

OQ2: Look at this licence! A hundred and twenty-five pounds? Girl you weigh more than the damn car!