by Chris Stelmak and Stephen Stelmak
Daily Cougar StaffWorld-famous action star Jackie Chan tries to smash into the American movie market with Rumble in the Bronx.
Chan has been making action/comedy movies now for more than two decades. After receiving unfavorable results for his early '80s American efforts, like The Big Brawl and a guest part in Cannonball Run and its sequel, Chan decided it was time to try again.
Chan is famous for doing all of his own stunts in films. He reportedly almost lost his life while filming The Armour of God when he accidentally fell 45 feet. In Police Story 3, Chan got sideswiped by a helicopter while hanging onto the side of a train.
This new film will not disappoint old Jackie Chan fans expecting some of the same amazing stunts.
During one scene, Chan is trapped on the roof of a parking garage and takes a forced jump to a balcony 26 feet away, followed by a 40-foot drop. Chan adds in many more stunts, such as barefoot water-skiing and standing inside a building while it is being demolished.
The plot lacks a bit, but all the action and humor make up for it. Chan plays a tourist who travels to America for the first time to attend his uncle's wedding and to help him out with his store.
Things begin to get sour when Chan foils a gang attempt to steal food from the store. The gang returns to trash the store, along with Chan. The plot thickens later when the mob steps in, with Chan somehow ending up in the middle of the whole situation.
From this point, we see our hero go from one fist fight to the next, battling evil but always stopping to help the handicapped. Those who are unfamiliar with Chan's prior movies may be familiar with Chan's reputation as an excellent martial arts expert.
Women may think this is a man's action movie; but they're wrong. Chan's slapstick humor prevails throughout the movie, turning what could have been a series of fights into a long stream of laughter.
Hardcore fans will love this new movie, arguably Chan's best yet. For those who have never been introduced to the amazing Chan, this movie is a great chance to see China's biggest star. Even if you don't like big action movies, Rumble in the Bronx is great fun, as long as you can appreciate physical humor. Chan is a Charlie Chaplin who knows martial arts.