• Release Date: 2010-12-07
• Genre: Action
• Artist Name: Philip Baker Hall, Rex Linn, Elizabeth Peņa, Chris Penn, Mark Rolston, Tom Wilkinson, Jackie Chan, James Fox, Chris Tucker, Julia Hsu, Ken Leung
• Director: Brett Ratner
• AMG Rating:
• MPAA Rating: PG13
• Category: Feature Films
• Cautions: Adult Humor, Violence, Adult Situations, Profanity
• Year: 1998
• Running Time: 98
• Movie Country of Origin: USA
• Available Language: English
• Subtitles: Eng/Spa
  

Brett Ratner directed this action-comedy that found box-office success by teaming Chris Tucker with Jackie Chan -- performing his own stunts as per his earlier films. As the story begins, Hong-Kong supercop Lee's (Chan), detective savvy leads to the confiscation of $500 million in weapons, drugs, and Chinese art. When Hong Kong Chinese Consul Han (Tzi Ma), is sent on a diplomatic mission to Los Angeles, his 11-year-old daughter, Soo Young (Julia Hsu), is abducted by an international criminal mastermind. The FBI assures Han they will find the kidnappers and return her safely, yet Han only trusts his longtime friend and ally (also his daughter's beloved martial arts teacher) Inspector Lee, who immediately flies in to help. Unwilling to have an outsider interfere in their investigation, the FBI assigns rogue LAPD detective (and buffoon) James Carter (Chris Tucker) to the case. Hoping to impress the FBI, Carter enthusiastically reports for work but is dismayed to discover his real mission is only to keep Lee away from the case (read b-a-b-y-s-i-t-t-e-r). The arrogant Carter reacts by embarking on a one-man crusade to solve the case, but he must first distract Lee. It doesn't take Carter long before he realizes he has greatly underestimated his Hong Kong counterpart, who sees what's going on and slips away. Impatient FBI agents try to cast off these unwanted misfit cops, but with an assist from LAPD bomb expert Tania Johnson (Elizabeth Pena), Carter and Lee eventually confront the bad guys in a full-tilt action sequence. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Action

Kidnapping, Culture Clash, Fish Out of Water

Forceful, Humorous, Slick, Light, Upbeat

DVD Features

• Commentary by Director Ratner
• Additional Scenes
• A Piece of the Action: Behind the Scenes of Rush Hour Featurette Gallery
• Brett Ratner's Short Film Whatever Happened to Mason Reese?
• 2 Music Videos: Dru Hill's How Deep Is Your Love? and Heavy D & the Boyz Nuttin' but Love
• Isolated Score with Commentary by Composer Lalo Schifrin
• Theatrical Trailer

DVD Chapters

• None SpecifiedNone Specified

Review

Just when it seemed that buddy movies peaked with the Lethal Weapon franchise, Rush Hour high-kicked its way to box-office success. Due to its surprisingly new take on the action-comedy genre, the film pairs up the polar opposite Jackie Chan with motor-mouth Chris Tucker of Friday. The talkaholic Tucker proves to be the perfect complement to Chan's choreographed kicks and backflips. While the movie is constructed from typical elements, the two stars make for an entertaining and exciting team. Martial arts expert Chan has become famous for being his own stunt man and literally breaking every bone in his body. Rush Hour not only shows his ability to throw punches and scale walls, but there are several physical routines that rival the work of Charlie Chaplin. In one scene, Chan must ward off goons as he protects wobbling vases -- and does so with the grace of Buster Keaton and the moves of Chuck Norris. Directed by Brett Ratner, who proved that he can direct both Tucker and high-octane action segments in Money Talks, the film comes to life due to the onscreen chemistry between Chan and Tucker. While some may be offended by the Asian stereotypes and racial jokes, one can't deny that Rush Hour proves that a little humor and creativity can fuse new life into an ailing genre. ~ Adam Goldberg, Rovi