Shanghai Noon (26 May 2000)
directed by Tom Dey
starring Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Lucy Liu, Roger Yuan, Xander Berkeley, Simon R. Baker
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MPAA rating: Studio: Jackie Chan Films, Spyglass Entertainment, Touchstone Pictures Script: Miles Millar, Alfred Gough Music: Randy Edelman Running time: 110 minutes Tags: China; Comedy; guns; Indians; jails; Martial Arts; mining; Native Americans; slaves; Western Tactical strength: [7/10]
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for action violence, some drug humor, language, and sensuality
Imagine the TV series Kung Fu but change Caine (David Carridine) from a Buddhist priest to a stand-up comedian, and you have a picture of Jackie Chan's western comedy Shanghai Noon.
Lo Fong (Roger Yuan), a former Chinese imperial guard, arranges the kidnapping of Princess Pei Pei (Lucy Liu), the emperor's fiancee. The kidnappers leave a note demanding the emperor send gold to Carson City in exchange for Pei Pei's life. The emperor sends his three best guards, a translator, a box of gold, and Chon Wang (Jackie Chan), an inept guard who failed to keep the princess in the imperial city -- someone had to carry the baggage.
Once in America, the Chinese rescue crew takes a train from the coast inland. A group of bandits led by Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson) attack the train. During the robbery, Chon gets separated from the other guards and makes his way alone to Carson City. En route, he has several encounters with Roy, and they eventually decide to team up to rescue the princess, especially after Roy learns of the gold ransom involved.
Shanghai Noon offers slightly better than usual Jackie Chan dialog, typical improvizational martial arts, and fun but merely average stunts (at least for Jackie). A video library purchase for those times when Quigly Down Under seems too serious and you can't stand Wild Wild West anymore (if you ever could stand it).
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