A Likable "Mr. Nice Guy" by Homer Yen (c) 1998
You can fault Jackie Chan films for having paper thin plots (it has the complexity of a two-piece jigsaw puzzle). You can fault him for having one-dimensional bad guys (villains either wear sunglasses and suits or look like snowboarding rejects). You can fault him for having a plethora of extraneous characters (there are always women that need saving). But it's hard not to like "Mr. Nice Guy."
Relentlessly animated and oozing with martial artistry, this movie focuses on Jackie, a chef who just happens to be walking home one day when he runs into an investigative reporter named Diana. It seems that people are chasing her because of a video that she just shot, which would incriminate the local crime lord. Being the chivalrous guy that he is, he begins to chop and sock her pursuers. At the end of this entertaining chase/fight sequence, Jackie mistakenly and unknowingly winds up with the video. For the rest of the movie, the bad guys are in hot pursuit of Jackie but our hero has no idea why. At every turn, more bad guys come his way, and we are treated to a variety of fight sequences that are artistically choreographed and sometimes jaw-droppingly amazing.
Watch as he fends off bad guys in a moving horse and buggy traveling out of control down a busy city street. See how he skillfully employs chairs, tables and garbage pails as his weapons. Wince as he barely escapes certain injury when he comes oh-so-close to a buzzsaw. Be amazed at his martial arts ability. But you'll also laugh because Chan's movies are kung-fu comedies that stress simplicity and fun. These moviemakers don't want you to be absorbed with plot twists or character development. Rather, they create opportunities for Chan to show his stuff. And ample opportunities are created and Chan comes through.
There are several things that pleased me about this Chan offering. Up to now, most of his releases had a very cheesy feel, especially because of the dubbing. Yet, while you may cock an eyebrow at the insipidness of the bad guys, the story (filmed in English) seemed more coherent and stayed focused on Jackie and his ability to take matters into his own quick-as-lightning hands. You won't be disappointed by the amount of action in the film or the stuntwork performed by Chan. His stunts are so wild that it's really hard to explain them in words. You'll have to see it to believe it.
The best way to view Chan's offerings is not to think of them as movies or Chan as an actor. Consider "Mr. Nice Guy" as a show with Chan as its lead performer. Indeed, you'll be hard-pressed to find entertainment like this anywhere else.
Grade: B
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