Movie Review                                                                                                            

20 Dec 2002

THEATRICAL RELEASE
Sep 27, 2002 (Wide)

NUMBERS
Box Office: $50,189,179

MPAA RATING
PG-13, action violence, sexual content, and language

RUNTIME
1 hour, 39 minutes

RELEASE COMPANY
DreamWorks Distribution LLC

Starring:

    Jackie Chan            Jennifer Love Hewitt        Debi Mazar            Jason Isaacs        Peter Stormare

Directed by: Kevin Donovan

Movie Review                                                                                                            

From gadgets, cool cars, nice tuxedo, sexy hot girls, evil villains trying to take over the world, the new action blockbuster Tuxedo, starring International Martial Arts Superstar Jackie Chan has all the flair of a formulaic James Bond Movie. So does it work? Well what can go wrong with a mix of comedy, Jackie Chan style action and a little bit of romance, sounds good? But the bad news for Chan's fans who are expecting Drunken Master 2 here, because Tuxedo is mostly a comedy than an action blockbuster. Well at least the movie is a good one hour and 40 minutes worth of carefree entertainment for a good family night out. 

The story is definitely not something to boast about but at least it has a funny story. Jackie Chan (Rush Hour 2) plays a taxi driver Jimmy Tong who couldn't even ask a girl out for dinner and nor does he knows kung-fu. But one day while driving recklessly and fast due to a special VIP passenger (Debi Mazar) request he receives the job of a driver of a playboy millionaire Clark Devlin (Jason Isaacs) - in James Bond style. When Devlin was injured and half-dead, Jackie took his place and wore the Tuxedo. Well the Tuxedo is a gadget which can transform you into a superman. Then the Bond formula begins, Chan is then mismatched with a CSA nerdy but pretty and sexy agent (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and together they battle the bad guys and lots of fun along the way.

This movie is certainly a big change for Jackie, from his usual 70% action movie to the Tuxedo a mere 30% action and also stunts turning into special effects, but surprisingly Chan and Love Hewitt (I Know what you did Last Summer) both performed with good heart and created a good chemistry along the way. Jason Isaacs also put in a hell of a great performance but rather brief as James Bond and the villains were typically evil, though not quite believable. If Pierce Brosnan suddenly retires, then Jason Isaacs is definitely a top choice as James Bond. Overall the casting was almost pitch perfect and acting was above par in what was a mediocre script.  

From a few laughs, special effects with stunts, Jackie Chan style action, dancing and singing, the beauty of Jennifer Love Hewitt, James Bond like gadgets, this movie has it all either than a script, but otherwise a carefree joyful ride for all families and leaves everyone wanting a Tuxedo.

Ratings:

                          1/2         

              7/10

By Andrew Chan (20 December 2002)