The latest in our series of Guardian writers picking their go-to happy movies is a look back at 1998’s unlikely buddy comedy
There’s many a time in a grocery store or Cvs when Fantasy by Mariah Carey comes on, and all I can think of is Rush Hour. It’s 1997, and in the backseat of a car the Chinese consul’s daughter Soo-yung (played by an 11-year-old Julia Hsu) belts sweet fantasy in the only way a Mariah song can be belted, her stone-faced bodyguards in front wading through Los Angeles traffic. To 10-year-old me, who sang about heartbreak and desire with similar vigor in front of her immigrant parents, it was a quintessentially American moment. There’s pure joy in Soo-yung’s face before we cut to the scene at large, as the car is directed to the side. A police car swings in front of them and a man gets out,...
There’s many a time in a grocery store or Cvs when Fantasy by Mariah Carey comes on, and all I can think of is Rush Hour. It’s 1997, and in the backseat of a car the Chinese consul’s daughter Soo-yung (played by an 11-year-old Julia Hsu) belts sweet fantasy in the only way a Mariah song can be belted, her stone-faced bodyguards in front wading through Los Angeles traffic. To 10-year-old me, who sang about heartbreak and desire with similar vigor in front of her immigrant parents, it was a quintessentially American moment. There’s pure joy in Soo-yung’s face before we cut to the scene at large, as the car is directed to the side. A police car swings in front of them and a man gets out,...
- 1/6/2025
- by Tammy Tarng
- The Guardian - Film News
In the world of buddy cop comedies, the "Rush Hour" franchise remains a standout. The odd coupling of a reserved chief inspector from Hong Kong and a fast-talking LAPD officer sparked three action-packed, hilarious films popular the world over, amassing over $850 million at the global box office.
Across the three films, Chief Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) solve cases in Hong Kong and the U.S., even paying a brief visit to France, typically involving the Triads and government officials. And while the trilogy offers adrenaline-inducing action sequences, it's the comedic chemistry between the two actors that has endured.
When the first installment of "Rush Hour" debuted in 1998, North American audiences had just become acquainted with Chan following the success of "Rumble in the Bronx," while films like "Friday" and "The Fifth Element" highlighted Tucker as an emerging comedic voice. Their natural banter won audiences...
Across the three films, Chief Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) solve cases in Hong Kong and the U.S., even paying a brief visit to France, typically involving the Triads and government officials. And while the trilogy offers adrenaline-inducing action sequences, it's the comedic chemistry between the two actors that has endured.
When the first installment of "Rush Hour" debuted in 1998, North American audiences had just become acquainted with Chan following the success of "Rumble in the Bronx," while films like "Friday" and "The Fifth Element" highlighted Tucker as an emerging comedic voice. Their natural banter won audiences...
- 8/26/2023
- by Rachel Ho
- Slash Film
Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker teamed up for this .opposites attract. buddy comedy that spawned a franchise. Hong Kong detective inspector Lee (Jackie Chan), on the last day of British rule, is set to track down mysterious crime boss Juntao. The raid only results in cornering Juntao.s right hand man Sang (Ken Leung) who escapes capture. The raid also nets the recovery of stolen treasures that Lee turns over to consul Han (Tzi Ma) and British commander Griffin (Tom Wilkinson). When the handover from the Brits occurs, Han goes to Los Angeles to take a diplomatic position. However, on arrival Han.s daughter Soo Yung (Julia Hsu) is kidnapped by no other than Sang. The distraught Han calls...
- 12/31/2010
- by Jeff Swindoll
- Monsters and Critics
Film review: 'Rush Hour'
Classy and brassy, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are a funky, well-matched duo in New Line's winning "Rush Hour". Amiably formulaic and tailored to the strengths of both stars, director Brett Ratner's action-comedy should commute to an impressive opening weekend and cruise to solid business in ancillary markets.
Ratner ("Money Talks") and screenwriters Jim Kouf and Ross Lamanna spin a fairly plausible suspenser in which legendary Hong Kong cop Lee (Chan) comes to Los Angeles to help an old friend and teams with zany LAPD misfit Carter (Tucker). The sucker picked to "babysit" Lee, Carter dreams of becoming an FBI agent, but his loud, irreverent chatter and mercurial personality are more evident than his detective skills.
The stage is set for Lee to help Carter in his career ambitions, while the cocky American teaches the reserved Hong Kong native how to loosen up and be hip. Although one can see it coming, moments like Lee using inappropriate language picked up from Carter in a roomful of unfriendlies -- leading to a furious barroom brawl -- are executed with finesse and rough charm.
Tucker has the lion's share of funny lines and goes through seemingly his whole catalog of routines, scoring particularly well in his straight scenes. Chan plays it seriously from the start, with the plot involving the rescue of the kidnapped daughter (Julia Hsu) of Lee's former Hong Kong boss (Tzi Ma Soo), but he makes a few comedic contributions. In a conspiracy dating to Hong Kong before the 1997 handover to China, a former British official (Tom Wilkinson) and deadly young gangster (Ken Leung) figure in the mild mayhem.
From hanging off a Hollywood Boulevard street sign to eluding FBI agents when entering the Chinese embassy, Chan has ample opportunities to show off his kung fu and acrobatic skills. While there are no particularly notable stunts, per se, a climactic fight in which he battles several opponents and prevents ancient Chinese artifacts from being destroyed is great stuff. While Tucker tends to suck up a lot of attention, Chan, like his character, quietly takes charge when it counts, while both performers rate as team players voluntarily restraining themselves.
Elizabeth Pena and Chris Penn are memorable in small roles, while Leung is another intense, young opponent for Chan to play with. Royally mounted in widescreen, with first-rate cinematography and production design, "Rush Hour" is well-paced and well-accompanied by mostly soulful tunes, including a cute Chan-Tucker duet of "War".
RUSH HOUR
New Line Cinema
An Arthur Sarkissian
and Roger Birnbaum production
Director: Brett Ratner
Screenwriters: Jim Kouf, Ross Lamanna
Producers: Roger Birnbaum, Arthur Sarkissian, Jonathan Glickman
Executive producer: Jay Stern
Director of photography: Adam Greenberg
Production designer: Robb Wilson King
Editor: Mark Helfrich
Costume designer: Sharen Davis
Music: Lalo Schifrin
Casting: Matthew Barry, Nancy Green-Keyes
Color/stereo
Cast:
Lee: Jackie Chan
Carter: Chris Tucker
Griffin: Tom Wilkinson
Sang: Ken Leung
Tania: Elizabeth Pena
Consul Han: Tzi Ma Soo
Yung: Julia Hsu
Clive: Chris Penn
Running time -- 97 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Ratner ("Money Talks") and screenwriters Jim Kouf and Ross Lamanna spin a fairly plausible suspenser in which legendary Hong Kong cop Lee (Chan) comes to Los Angeles to help an old friend and teams with zany LAPD misfit Carter (Tucker). The sucker picked to "babysit" Lee, Carter dreams of becoming an FBI agent, but his loud, irreverent chatter and mercurial personality are more evident than his detective skills.
The stage is set for Lee to help Carter in his career ambitions, while the cocky American teaches the reserved Hong Kong native how to loosen up and be hip. Although one can see it coming, moments like Lee using inappropriate language picked up from Carter in a roomful of unfriendlies -- leading to a furious barroom brawl -- are executed with finesse and rough charm.
Tucker has the lion's share of funny lines and goes through seemingly his whole catalog of routines, scoring particularly well in his straight scenes. Chan plays it seriously from the start, with the plot involving the rescue of the kidnapped daughter (Julia Hsu) of Lee's former Hong Kong boss (Tzi Ma Soo), but he makes a few comedic contributions. In a conspiracy dating to Hong Kong before the 1997 handover to China, a former British official (Tom Wilkinson) and deadly young gangster (Ken Leung) figure in the mild mayhem.
From hanging off a Hollywood Boulevard street sign to eluding FBI agents when entering the Chinese embassy, Chan has ample opportunities to show off his kung fu and acrobatic skills. While there are no particularly notable stunts, per se, a climactic fight in which he battles several opponents and prevents ancient Chinese artifacts from being destroyed is great stuff. While Tucker tends to suck up a lot of attention, Chan, like his character, quietly takes charge when it counts, while both performers rate as team players voluntarily restraining themselves.
Elizabeth Pena and Chris Penn are memorable in small roles, while Leung is another intense, young opponent for Chan to play with. Royally mounted in widescreen, with first-rate cinematography and production design, "Rush Hour" is well-paced and well-accompanied by mostly soulful tunes, including a cute Chan-Tucker duet of "War".
RUSH HOUR
New Line Cinema
An Arthur Sarkissian
and Roger Birnbaum production
Director: Brett Ratner
Screenwriters: Jim Kouf, Ross Lamanna
Producers: Roger Birnbaum, Arthur Sarkissian, Jonathan Glickman
Executive producer: Jay Stern
Director of photography: Adam Greenberg
Production designer: Robb Wilson King
Editor: Mark Helfrich
Costume designer: Sharen Davis
Music: Lalo Schifrin
Casting: Matthew Barry, Nancy Green-Keyes
Color/stereo
Cast:
Lee: Jackie Chan
Carter: Chris Tucker
Griffin: Tom Wilkinson
Sang: Ken Leung
Tania: Elizabeth Pena
Consul Han: Tzi Ma Soo
Yung: Julia Hsu
Clive: Chris Penn
Running time -- 97 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
- 9/18/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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