"Bring on the 'Knights'"
by Scott Mantz

"Shanghai Knights"
Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson
Directed by David Dobkin

Kung Pow! Fann Wong, Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson come to the rescue in "Shanghai Knights"

It's too bad that the Hollywood studios can't release a movie that's solely comprised of the outtakes that traditionally appear at the end of Jackie Chan's American-produced films. As everyone knows, these hilarious false starts, flubs and stunts-gone-wrong are often the best part of his movies.

Until then, fans will have to settle for unnecessary sequels like "Shanghai Knights." The fact that the film even got made is a surprise, since its predecessor, 2000's "Shanghai Noon," grossed only $57 million at the domestic box office. Then again, Chan and co-star Owen Wilson have come a long way since the sun set on "Noon" two-and-a-half years ago, and though "Knights" feels padded and runs about 20 minutes too long, it still fits the bill as a charming, silly and fun winter diversion.

Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) has settled into his new career as a successful sheriff in the Old West, while carefree cowboy Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson) has decided to take his chances in the Old East (New York, to be exact). When Wan g gets word that his father has been murdered, he seeks out O'Bannon's help in an effort to travel to London to find the culprit. Upon their arrival, Wang and O'Bannon uncover a plot to kill the Queen, but even worse, Wang has to contend with O'Bannon's crush on his kid sister (Fann Wong), who has also come to London to find her father's killer.

"Shanghai Knights" is a little slow going, and the stunts feel somewhat tame compared to Chan's earlier work (after all, the guy is 49), but the film makes up for its flaws with a healthy dose of charm between its charismatic co-stars. Chan has recently stated that he'd like to put the fight scenes behind him so he can focus on more acting and comedy, and as long as he pairs himself off with complimentary co-stars like Wilson and "Rush Hour's" Chris Tucker, then he has nothing to worry about (in other words, no more movies with Jennifer Love Hewitt, who didn't fit into last year's Chan flop "The Tuxedo").

Owen Wilson has become Hollywood's most unlikely man-for-all-seasons, having proven himself in sophisticated fare ("The Royal Tenenbaums,"), action films ("Behind Enemy Lines"), and goofy comedies ("Zoolander"). Other than last year's disappointing team-up with Eddie Murphy in "I Spy," Wilson often steals his scenes when he plays the comic foil to play-it-straight co-stars like Chan. In "Shanghai Knights," Wilson works hard to maintain a carefree, off-the-cuff atmosphere, and his presence alone is a reminder that the only thing at stake here is having a good time.

As for the supporting performances, what would any buddy picture be without a damsel in distress? "Noon's" Lucy Liu is out, and "Knight's" Fann Wong is in as Chan's more-than-capable little sister. Already a popular recording artist in Singapore, Wong makes an effective American film debut by mixing sexuality with a healthy dose of butt-kicking action. Irish actor Aidan Gillen also gives an effective performance as the evil, spoiled British mastermind behind the film's iffy plot, although it must be stated that he resembles a young Alec Baldwin on a bad hair day.

Between the bigger budget, the lavish production values and a "Forrest Gump"-style attempt to make references to British history, every effort is made to make "Shanghai Knights" better than it's predecessor. Since the law of averages indicates that sequels are often inferior to the films that spawned them, Chan and Wilson can take heed that "Shanghai Knights" is at least as good as "Shanghai Noon."

And those outtakes? The best part of the movie!

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