Review of Shanghai Knights (2003) by Faiz D — 09 Aug 2012

After the release of the forgettable Rush Hour 2, it seemed like double-dipping in the buddy action-comedy genre would be a bad idea. Shanghai Knights, however, ignores the shortcomings of similar sequels by being almost as good as the first one.

The change of setting and formula serve the film well. It manages to be refreshing and original by placing familiar characters in new territory. The two lead characters overshadow everybody else, and the paper-thin plot and poor character development are glaring.

In fact, I completely forgot Chon Wang had a sister in this one until I saw part of it on TV a few years after my initial viewing. What matters most in a film like this is the comedic timing and creative stunts, both of which are present.

It's a shame that they felt compelled to make a third Rush Hour film instead of continuing this series.