Rush Hour 3
The third entry in this buddy-cop action franchise makes it clear that series director Brett Ratner has little intention of straying from the familiar formula, and in the context of these films, that seems perfectly alright. Chan and Tucker continue to make an enjoyable team, and the stuntwork plus sharp comic writing (which are a bastion of the series) is maintained here. The locale this time changes from LA and Hong Kong to Paris (complete with an unusual cameo from Roman Polanski as a detective) as Lee and Carter attempt to find those behind the attempted assassination of Consul Han (Leeās dear friend from the first film) and try to protect his daughter Soo Yung (now all grown up) from harm as well at the hands of the Triads. The big dynamic added here is the character of Kenji, the chief antagonist played by Hiroyuki Sanada, who happens to be Leeās brother as well, adding to the dramatic intensity of their big showdown; Then there is French model Noemie Lenoir as a singer with important information for the duo: Easily one of the most beautiful newcomers of the last few years, she plays off the stars very well (though the way Carter first meets her is a copy of how other females were introduced into the story in past films); Yvan Attal is annoying as an anti-American cab driver who is āconvertedā (though French acting royalty Julie Depardieu is fetching as his wife); and the legendary Max Von Sydow brings some surehanded levity to the proceedings as the French ambassador. As for the comedy bits, they remain as good as ever, with Carter and a kung fu master having an argument that turns into an homage of Abbott and Costelloās āWhoās On Firstā being a highlight as well as the interrogation of a Triad assassin who only speaks French. There are a certain number of plot holes, especially towards the end (Soo Yung is never shown getting to safety as well as there being several armed gunman who are never seen getting captured). The big finale at the Eiffel Tower has its moments, but the fact remains that this franchise can never be quite as fresh as the original film unless Ratner and Co. take some BIG risks with the story if they make a fourth one. Nonetheless, it remains another mindlessly entertaining entry in a high-quality seriesā¦
7/10