"Okay, which one of y'all kicked me..."      

RUSH HOUR (PG-13) 

Reviewed September 20, 1998 - Check out the Rush Hour Website.

The fastest hands in the East meets the fastest mouth in the West.  That's the setup for Rush Hour, a lively buddy-cop action picture starring martial arts superstar Jackie Chan and loudmouthed comedian Chris Tucker.  When the young daughter of a Chinese diplomat is kidnapped in L.A., Hong Kong detective Lee (Chan) is called in by the diplomat to help investigate the case.  The FBI, of course, wants Lee out of the way of their investigation, and finds screwup LAPD Detective James Carter (Tucker) to "babysit" Lee during his visit to America.  So, it's department outcast Carter and fish-out-of-water Lee suddenly together on the prowl in L.A....one fast talker, one fast kicker...and neither of them willing to take a backseat to the FBI.  Hold on, right?

Well, right enough.  Those of you who've enjoyed Jackie Chan's martial arts prowess before will find it once again in Rush Hour, and as always Chan is a pleasure to watch.  Tucker, obviously brought into the picture for his "verbal prowess," is also generally entertaining, adding a heavy dose of babbling verbal comedy to the mix.  Together, the two make for a curiously silly pairing that offers loads of entertainment potential.  Unfortunately, however, the two also at times make for an inconsistent pairing in Rush Hour, sometimes hitting great comedic marks dead on, and at other times awkwardly missing their targets.  The hit-and-miss element in this film's comedy is, I suppose, typical of many lightweight, tongue-in-cheek films such as this.  Still, it does tend to pull Rush Hour down towards the category of "typical," and any higher expectations going in will probably lead to disappointment.  Nevertheless, this is overall a fun, likeable film that wisely doesn't take itself too seriously...if you're a fan of either Tucker or Chan, go check it out.  The hilarious though brief performance of eleven year old Julia Hsu (as the young kidnapping victim) is also worth a look, but then kids and animals always do have a way of stealing scenes, don't they?

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

Seb gives this movie  stars: "My name isn't really Jackie chan. I just don't want to put my real name. I think that Jackie chan is the coolest person in the world. I love how he does his own stunts and the out takes at the end are the funiest. " (10/26/01)

ewhyman@start.com.au gives this movie  stars: "Rush Hour is a great movie.It is Funny and if i had the video i'd watch it every day It is an excellent show." (10/17/00)

rfksecond2@cs.com gives this movie  stars: "Chan and Tucker are the perfect team (acting wise)! One of the funniest and most action packed (quality action, anyway) ever!" (6/21/00)

David Rogers gives this movie  stars: "First Chan movie I've ever seen. And I was impressed!" (4/27/00)

Bob gives this movie  stars: "I love this movie, I don't get these people who are saying it stinks but you I'm not a huge fan for tae kwown do, or karate. Though this one was good." (9/29/99)

SweetAnnette@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "Love the movie...funny entertaning just about everyting you want movie to be they both rule Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan!!" (4/25/99)

blood@connectu.net gives this movie  stars: "This is a must see movie if your into comedie This is worth missing that important meeting" (12/1/98)

shan@cccnj.com gives this movie  stars. (10/28/98)

lterpstra@njdc.com gives this movie  stars: "OOPS!!! I thought I hit 5 stars!!!!! Definitely 5!!!!!" (10/23/98) (...we thought so... :-) -- fuzzydog)

lterpstra@njdc.com gives this movie  stars: "This is the first Jackie Chan movie that I've actually seen in a theater and I loved it. BUT....if they do a sequel I certainly hope that they let Jackie wear his hair the way he always does and let him do his choreographed fight scenes the way he wants to. MORE MORE MORE JACKIE! " (10/22/98) (so, we're assuming that the 1 1/2 star rating was a mistake...? -- fuzzydog)

Brett Iversen gives this movie  stars. (10/18/98)

Monika Rhone gives this movie  stars: "Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are so funny I give it Four thumbs up" (9/24/98)

moncamoody@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan are a great duo! Absolutely hysterical." (9/24/98)

andersch@eglin.af.mil gives this movie  stars: "this movie was so entertaining and funny!! I would love a sequel!!!" (9/23/98)

Mike W. gives this movie  stars: "his not as good as Bruce Lee but his up there we watch all his movies, and love them." (9/23/98)

Dick gives this movie  stars. (9/15/98)