"Head 'Rush'"
by Scott Mantz

"Rush Hour 2"
Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker
Directed by Brett Ratner

Question: Why are Hollywood movies a lot like Chinese food?

Answer: Because about an hour after they're over, you've forgotten all about them and are hungry for more!

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragnet! Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan strike a pose in "Rush Hour 2"

At least Jackie Chan's movies are a little different. Not only does the Chinese superstar have an incredible body of work in his native homeland, but he's also been very smart with his American movies by teaming up with sidekicks who compliment his talents. Last year, that person was Owen Wilson in "Shanghai Noon," but back in 1998, that person was Chris Tucker in "Rush Hour." After that film took in $250 million worldwide and ushered in what could best be described as the next generation of "Lethal Weapon" movies, a sequel was practically guaranteed.

That brings us to "Rush Hour 2," which pretty much picks up where the first movie left off. There's no doubt that Chan and Tucker once again make a good team, but thanks to an underwritten script, so-so jokes, and relatively tame action sequences, "Rush Hour 2" turns out to be one of Jackie Chan's more forgettable servings.

When motormouth police detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) arrives in Hong Kong for a visit with his old buddy, Chief Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) of the Hong Kong Police, his vacation is cut short when an explosion at the US Embassy kills two people. During their investigation, Lee and Carter uncover an illegal counterfeiting operation headed by Ricky Tan (John Lone), the suave mob boss who was responsible for the death of Lee's father. Carter and Lee struggle to get to the bottom of the case, but two major obstacles stand in their way. One is Isabella (Roselyn Sanchez), a US Customs official who can't seem to decide who's side she's on, and the other is Hu Li (Zhang Ziyi), Ricky Tan's beautiful, but deadly henchwoman who has her own plans in mind.

As with "Lethal Weapon 2," the partners in "Rush Hour 2" are even more comfortable than they were in the first film, but unfortunately, the rest of the material just isn't up to snuff. For one thing, Jackie Chan's character is so under-written, he's almost like a guest star in his own movie. Sure, he's charming and funny, but he can't help but get drowned out by Chris Tucker's mile-a-minute banter. In addition, part of his appeal in the first movie was that--as an honorable Hong Kong cop lost in Los Angeles--he was the ultimate fish out of water. Since most of the action in "Rush Hour 2" takes place in Hong Kong, the fish is back in the water, and quite frankly, it's just not as fun.

This time around, Chris Tucker is the fish out of water, and while his ability to go over the top provides for many of the film's best scenes (particularly during Tucker's killer rendition of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"), they're not as laugh-out-loud funny as one might expect. What it boils down to is a film where the best parts were used in the coming attractions or left as outtakes to accompany the closing credits.

Probably the best example of a missed opportunity is that Jackie Chan and Zhang Ziyi never embrace in the ultimate confrontation. After Ziyi caught the attention of moviegoers everywhere in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," the filmmakers of "Rush Hour 2'" scrambled to find a role for her in this movie. Unfortunately, it shows. Despite one matchup in the middle of the film (which looks like it could have come right out of the beginning of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"), Chan and Ziyi never embrace in what would have been one for the books.

Since "Rush Hour 2" comes and goes in a swift 90 minutes, there's not much time to develop the characters beyond what was already established in the first film. Then again, that's not what this movie is about, and despite its flaws, it's still amusing and exciting enough to leave moviegoers hungry for more. Actually, that was probably the point. Maybe the whole purpose of "Rush Hour 2" is to serve as an appetizer until the main course comes along a few years from now in "Rush Hour 3."

Here's hoping that we don't forget about it by then.

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