The
ever so entertaining Jackie Chan follows Rush Hour with Shanghai Noon, an immensely
entertaining, been-there-done-that, fish out of water comedy that works because
of the sheer charm of its stars. Once again Chan kicks up a storm, but the big
surprise here is the comic talent of Owen Wilson (Bottle Rocket).
Chan
plays a Shanghai native who must travel to America to save an Empress. Once there,
he joins forces with a goofy bandit (Wilson) in order to learn the ways of the
Old West.
As usual,
Chan is right on the money his sense of comic timing and martial arts skills are
impeccable. Whenever he gets into a scrape, he will use whatever prop necessary
to get out of the situation. Owen Wilson is equally funny in a more subtle way.
Although
eccentric, and quite offbeat, Wilson has created a new kind of comic rhythm, and
this is the first opportunity he's had since Bottle Rocket to show it off. Chan
and Wilson create a terrific chemistry and they play off of each other like old
pros.
Shanghai
Noon is a pleasant, if obvious, action-comedy that's in the tradition of Maverick.
It's funny, likable and breezy. Thanks to Chan and Wilson, it manages to be a
cut above the rest of the current comedy crop.
