New Line Cinema presents a PG-13 comedy, action, crime film directed by Brett Ratner and starring Jackie Chan (Chief Inspector Lee), Chris Tucker (Detective James Carter), Hiroyuki Sanada (Kenji), Noemie Lenoir (Genevieve), Max Von Sydow (Varden Reynard), Yvan Attal (George), Sun Ming Ming (Triad Member), Julie Depardieu (George's wife), Tzi Ma (Consul Han), Roman Polanski (Detective Revi), Simon Rhee (French Assassin) and Jingchu Zhang (Soo Yung).
Just like Abbott and Costello and Martin and Lewis there is always a straight man and a comedic wonder and this film follows in those footsteps from the past and brings with it the humor, excitement and thrills of the modern day. Carter a city traffic cop that sings to his own tune apparently still holds on to the friendship with Lee in this trilogy like a brother from a different mother. Lee is protecting the Chinese Ambassador at a meeting at the World Criminal Court as he is about to expose the meaning behind "Shy Shen". An assassin known as Kenji, someone close to Lee, is sent to exterminate the Ambassador and from a building afar takes the shot. When the chase is on so is the union between Carter and Lee and from this moment on let the games and the antics begin.
They are now working together to protect the Ambassadors knowledge of the Triad crime group, the 13 dragons of the secret society and also the Ambassador's daughter, Soo Yung, who is also now in the path of danger. Once again this rendition contains some awesome shoot outs, chase scenes, battles both hand to hand and sword to sword, amongst other weapons, all leading to some of the best comical one liners to hit the big screen this year. At Soo Yung's school when the guys go looking for a letter kept in her locker from her father there is not only a phenomenal steroidal fight scene between the guys and a giant china man but a flashback moment to an old time favorite of "who's on first" type scenario between the Master and Carter.
Eventually this leads them on a flight across the world to Paris where they search for answers and clues to the whereabouts of the Triad and the "Shy Shen". When they arrive even the cab driver, George, has a few things to say about Americans until he himself ends up as one of this stories super spies. It was great to watch some of the Paris landscapes as gorgeous as they are but boy do I remember Paris and all that it has to offer!
Both Chan and Tucker are superb is this third installment to the franchise and are sure to bring in a healthy and hefty load to the box office bottom line. Like a crouching tiger they are both very able to tear up that hidden dragon after six years. With the help of some fascinating marshal arts, a thrill ride of fast action cinematic chases throughout Paris, high flying fist to sword towering Eiffel moments, intriguing characters and plot this film is both entertaining and hysterically enjoyable.
Without giving away to much to this well directed, acted, written story, the clues which lead to the hair raising climatic discovery of the "Shy Shen" will leave you satisfied to a brilliantly fingered yet leggy case closed. Remember to stick around during the credits because there are some out-takes worth adding to your own list of funny theatrical spoofs.
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.