When we last saw Chief Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) they were onboard a plane headed for Hong Kong. They had just unmasked the head of a criminal syndicate and had rescued the kidnapped daughter of a Chinese consul. They had done all this despite interference from the FBI, violent opposition from the syndicate and a significant culture barrier between the two policemen: one from Hong Kong and one from Los Angeles.
When we next see Lee and Carter, at the beginning of "Rush Hour 2," they have already arrived in Hong Kong and are struggling to find some rest and relaxation. Carter, the more loud-mouthed and irreverent of the two, is especially anxious to meet women. Unfortunately for both men, Lee is constantly being called away on criminal cases. Then comes a new tip: Ricky Tan, the leader of a criminal organization, is suspected of killing two translators at the American Embassy. Lee, fortified by his overpowering sense of duty, volunteers to track down Tan and solve the case; Carter, distracted by his overpowering libido, grudgingly agrees to help.
Viewed specifically through its plot, "Rush Hour 2" is not very different from its predecessor. In both movies, the two cops search for clues, fight deadly assassins and are blocked in their investigation by a myopic government agency, this time the Secret Service. "Rush Hour 2" distinguishes itself, however, in its use of comedy. The jokes in "Rush Hour" were born from the misunderstandings between Lee and Carter, but the jokes in the sequel are based on their complete comprehension of each other.
The screenplay, written by Jeff Nathanson, also has some very funny lines that are very politically incorrect. Lee, who is Chinese, and Carter, who is African-American, trade racial barbs with each other in a very playful and benign way.
As in the first movie, the action in "Rush Hour 2" is exciting, funny and fluidly choreographed. A fight scene at a massage parlor early in the film is especially creative and hilarious, as Lee and Carter, wearing only their bathrobes, fight a small army of Tan-sympathizers.
The supporting cast of "Rush Hour 2" is a decidedly mixed bag. Although Ziyi Zhang is perfect as the cold and ruthless assassin Hu Li, Roselyn Sanchez is underwhelming as the friend-or-foe Isabella Molina. The biggest disappointment is John Lone, who plays Ricky Tan. Lone stole every one of his scenes in "The Shadow," where he played the last descendent of Genghis Khan, but in "Rush Hour 2" he is unimpressive and ultimately forgettable.
In any event, the main draw of the "Rush Hour" movies is Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, who have developed a strong sense of chemistry and are very funny together. Chan, a student of the silent film comedians, and Tucker, a stand-up comic, bring two unique perspectives to physical and verbal comedy. Theirs is an odd couple to be remembered.
** 1/2 out of ****
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