Rush Hour 3

  

There's an old saying that the third time's the charm. Well, that doesn't really apply to Rush Hour 3. Like most of the other "threequels" pumped out by Hollywood this summer, it's pretty obvious that this franchise is running on fumes and the film-makers just slapped something together to make a quick buck.

It's not a bad movie per se, and in fact, there are some entertaining scenes here. But to call this a "Jackie Chan movie" is a gross dis-service to his better work. Like some of Chan's lesser US efforts like The Tuxedo, Chan feels like more of a prop or set piece that an actual actor participating in the production.

There's really very little in the way of action, and what's presented has Chan obivously (and I mean really obviously) doubled for most of it. Yeah, I realize that the guy's in his fifties now, and we shouldn't expect Drunken Master II-esque antics from him, but it is really kind of sad seeing CGI and stuntmen attempting to stand in for what was once one of the world's best -- if not the best -- action stars.

Surprisingly, some of the slack is picked up by Chris Tucker. He must have switched to sugar-free Red Bull, because he doesn't totally chew up the scenery here. Almost. There's a few groan-inducing moments, like a bad "Kung Fu Fighting" parody. However, for the most part, Tucker is actually funny here, and that goes a long way to saving the movie.

But even his best efforts can't save Rush Hour 3 from becoming a totally pedestrian effort. It's a decent enough summer popcorn flick, and something that you would check out if it was on TBS at 2 AM. It'll entertain you well enough for ninety minutes. But as for actually being a good movie, that's another matter altogether. Rumor has it that Jackie only did this movie because of contractural obligations. Let's hope that is the case, because a fourth installment of this series would probably merge straight into the slow lane.

RATING: 5

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