Stars Jackie Chan, Kwone Sang Woo, Laura Weissbecker, Yao Xing Tong, Liao Fan, Zhang Lan Xin with Steve Yoo Seung Jun and Oliver Platt Directed by Jackie Chan For his (reportedly) last major full feature action adventure (it's not like he's going to stop making movies, just purely action loaded ones), writer-producer-director Jackie Chan revisits one of his enduring characters, although you wouldn't really know it at first. His character here goes by JC, but there is a quick mention of "Hawk" and those Chiclets do appear tying this to the "Armour Of God" adventures. A major difference is that JC works with a proper team here instead of flying solo and drawing a team together for the adventure. Following a spectacular stunt-filled opening involving a full body roller-suit (see it to believe it), the movie takes a moment to settle into the job at hand - a hunt for several pieces of bronze sculptures that represent the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. A hunt that takes our hero and his team on a globe trotting adventure. And in the spirit of its predecessors, there are gag-filled fights, crazy stunts, exotic locales, outrageous set-pieces (one involving pirates, another over an active volcano no less) and lots of henchmen to punch out. The degree of the action is variable tho, as Chan fields out some of the action set-pieces to co-stars. A particular standout being Zhang Lan Xin, a Taekwondo champion making her feature film debut. You can't really begrudge Chan slowing down a little and sharing the load given how age catches up on a person. The set-pieces are still fun, although there is little in way of innovation - except in the technology on display. It's still old-fashioned physical action on display, and the usual end credits outtakes really showcase the years taking their toll on Chan's body. Problem being that a lot of what he's trying has been done, often by Hollywood and their special effects teams. Still… Still… it's an old-fashioned Jackie Chan adventure, and most likely the last one we'll get. He still entertains. There's still a little preaching tied into the story. There is a little case of redemption for the character. It's a little of everything that worked before, put together with a little flair and class, with a whole lot of spirit and good-will. This one really is for the fans, and even Jackie himself tags on a personal message over the end-credits, once in Mandarin (I think, might be Cantonese) and then later in English. Some fans might find it a little disappointing, probably expecting the Chan of old to show up for heart-stopping derring do. Others might get the hint of nostalgia that Chan was probably going for. The youngsters in the audience did seem to react positively, and it's probably a good way for them to discover the rest of his older movies. It's not likely to be vintage Jackie Chan, but it is a decent effort. A tribute to the greatest hits and misses. Entertaining on its own, but not if you hold it up to everything else that has come before.
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