Rush Hour 3

August 10th, 2007 by James Cook | Source:

Directed by: Brett Ratner
Written by: Jeff Nathanson
Starring: Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan, Max von Sydow, Yvan Attal, Tzi Ma, Noémie Lenoir

Score: 3/10

I was never really a fan of the Rush Hour movies. I guess I semi-enjoyed the first one, and thought that two was just completely unnecessary. So needless to say I had the same thoughts about number three. Although I really disliked part two, after watching part three I would have done anything to have a movie of that quality.

Carter (Chris Tucker) and Lee (Jackie Chan) are back as the two friends who once again get caught up in situations that they shouldn’t be in. This time they get involved in a assassination attempt involving ambassador Han, who you might remember from the first movie. After learning that the Triads are behind it they head to Paris where to protect a woman who has the group’s secrets tattooed on her body. From there it’s just you’re strangers in a strange land where I assuming hilarity was suppose to ensue.

I won’t go into any further details about the plot, because quite simply put I don’t have very much energy to discuss it. If you really want to know what this movie is about then I suggest you just watch Rush Hour one and two. It’s the same movie.

Please somebody tell me why there’s a Rush Hour 3? Let’s forego the money argument here, does anybody actually care about this series anymore? Rush Hour was decent enough, but it was one of those movies that should have just existed as one. I can’t remember the last time I watched a movie that was so recycled.

There aren’t really any redeeming qualities about this movie. It’s what I probably should have expected from a third Rush Hour movie, and it’s my fault for giving it the benefit of the doubt. There’s about one decent action sequence and I chuckled about twice. The action scenes are probably what was the most disappointing. Jackie Chan is famous for the crazy stunts that he pulls off in his movies. Now granted the Rush Hour series has never really used his full potential but in this movie they don’t even try.

This movie is so lazy. It’s not even trying and let’s face it, it’s not like they actually have to try hard. From what I understand this project was in development hell for a long time because of script issues. If this is the script that went to lens I can’t imagine the ones that were turned down.

Overall, Rush Hour 3 is one of the most un-original sequels I’ve ever seen. In a series that prides it self on having as much laughs as there is action and then you end up getting neither – that’s when you know it’s a complete train wreck. Avoid at all costs.