One of Jackie's best films of the 1990s

Leofwine_draca

A typical Jackie Chan film that offers up tons of breathtaking action and not much else, this is action film-making well above average. Now I've heard critics complain about Jackie Chan films and this film in particular having no plot or complex storyline. Instead they possess childish, over-simplified stories which just involve different characters getting chased, caught, escaping, and getting chased again, usually involving a character or an item that the bad guys are after (here it's a videotape). I don't really understand this level of criticism. If you're looking for plot and story go see a film like FARGO or A SIMPLE PLAN instead. Action films I hate are those which contain an abundance of plot and dialogue and a minimum of action. Reverse that quota and you have utterly entertaining cinema, action, and excitement from start to finish with barely time to breathe. MR. NICE GUY is no exception, a return to the old days for Jackie where the action was plentiful and the stunts come thick and fast.

Sure, there are a few dodgy aspects to the film but none of them are particularly surprising. The acting is generally terrible, especially from the western actresses brought into the movie to tell it to an overseas audience. Chan speaks English here which adds to the authenticity and his accent is pretty easy to understand. The best role goes to Richard Norton, an old pro who handles the part of his slimy gangster villain with ease and who has some great lines and mannerisms. Check out the bizarre fight sequence between Chan and Norton, which has Chan restrained with elastic to give Norton a helping hand. It makes little sense but is pretty amusing.

As for the action, it mainly takes the form of chases which is fine by me. There are fights in a shopping mall (recalling POLICE STORY) and a stand out sequence involving a chase on a horse-drawn carriage which is very well shot (check out the superior stunt in which Chan falls off, nearly going under the wheels of a bus and only saving himself with his hands). The kung fu is nice and fast and always exciting, with Chan making great use of props for danger and action. Another highlight is a battle in a workshop with bits of wood and circular saws everywhere. Things culminate in a terrific finale involving a truly massive bulldozer demolishing a building. Scenes where Jackie lies on his back, pushing himself backwards with his feet to avoid getting crushed under the wheel of the truck, or where he hangs onto the wheel to get into the cab, are classic and showcase an athletic and dare-defying Chan at his finest. Sammo Hung handles the direction and makes a good job of it, only spoiling things slightly with some silly slow-motion inserts. Check out his cameo as an irate cyclist!

score 8/10

Leofwine_draca 29 August 2016

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3534227/