RUSH HOUR 2 (2001)

Starring Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, John Lone, Ziyi Zhang, Roselyn Sanchez, Harris Yulin, Alan King, Kenneth Tsang, Maggie Q, Lucy Lin, Jeremy Piven, Saul Rubinek and Don Cheadle.

Screenplay by Jeff Nathanson.

Directed by Brett Ratner.

Distributed by New Line Pictures. 91 minutes. Rated PG-13.

The first Rush Hour movie was nothing special. And yet, compared to this tepid sequel, we’re talking Citizen Kane territory. I suppose the new film had a storyline, though for the life of me I can’t remember what it was. Jackie Chan is Jackie Chan, you know what you are going to get with him, a light comic version of Bruce Lee that is not to everyone’s liking, but at least you can see why he would be popular. 

Chris Tucker is another case entirely. He is not only unfunny, but he is borderline offensive. His character, in fact his whole shtick, is quite possibly the most offensive African American stereotype since Stephin Fetchit. How is it possible that this loud, lazy, rude, prejudiced, thoughtless jerk of a character has made Tucker a star? I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that he is smart enough to know better and considers it a “parody,” but I don’t have to sit and watch it. (8/01)

Randall Carlton

Copyright ©2001 PopEntertainment.com All rights reserved. Posted: August 3, 2001.