Rush Hour is an okay movie; it's basically watered-down Chan. The plot is no better or worse than many of Chan's recent movies -- it's full of cliches (the partners that hate each other, the bomb wire-cutting bit, etc.) but the movie moves along at a good clip, so you don't think about the cheesy plot too much. However, the action sequences pale in comparison to even some of the lesser Chan movies. There was talk bantered around that Chan couldn't do what he wanted to do because of insurance regulations, but, truthfully I think it's a case of Chan's advancing age more than anything. Don't get me wrong -- the action sequences are quite competent... but that's all they are. There's none of the brilliance of the Chan/Urquidez fight in Dragons Forever or the Axe Gang sequence from Drunken Master II.

As Rush Hour is lacking in the action department (and probably to make it more palatable to American audiences), the film seems to concentrate more on the comedic bits. Basically, all I can say is that while Chan and Tucker have good chemistry together, I personally Chris Tucker to be one of the most annoying personalities in film today. But if you like him (as many others do -- maybe it's just me), you'll probably find Rush Hour a very funny movie. Chan is pretty funny, even though most of the jokes come from the tired "East meets West" thread (like the "Beach Boys" bit shown in the trailers).

To sum up this review, I'll use an equation: a good American action/comedy movie plus a horrible Jackie Chan movie equals something that minor Chan fans will love but major fans will probably dislike.

To Ratner's credit, the exposition never bogs down the film nor is any of the action gratuitously violent. The supporting cast exists mainly to react to the shenanigans of their featured co-stars but Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty), Chris Penn, and especially a feisty Elizabeth Pena, as Carter's fed-up colleague, give it their best. (It's also refreshing that the film's major female role is not the obligatory love interest.)