Movie Guys: Critics caught in a traffic jam over 'Rush Hour'

* Grades: Jeff, B; Dave, C-.

* Starring: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Tom Wilkinson, Chris Penn and Elizabeth Pena.

* Director: Brett Ratner.

* Screenplay: Jim Kouf and Ross Lamanna.

* Rated: PG-13 for profanity, violence and adult themes.

* Running time: 96 minutes.

* Playing at: Regal Cinemas Sunset Station, Regal Cinemas Texas Station, Regal Cinemas Village Square, UA Showcase mall, UA Rainbow Promenade, Century Orleans 12, Century Desert, Cinedome 12 Henderson.

* Synopsis:

Tragedy strikes when the daughter of the Chinese consul is kidnaped. As the FBI scrambles to save the young girl's life, the Chinese diplomat turns to the only man he can trust, Hong Kong Police Detective Lee (Jackie Chan). Unwilling to have their investigation invaded by a meddling outsider, the FBI assigns James Carter (Chris Tucker), a rogue LAPD detective, to keep Lee away from the case at any cost. Together they wreak havoc on Los Angeles, the investigation and each other as they become tangled in a web of revenge, deceit and betrayal.

Dave:

Summer is officially over, and the big-budget, over-produced garbage that infested theaters during long, warm summer days is quietly supplanted by movies with heavy dramas, romance and Oscar-bait films. However, a few summer movies saved for the fall season surface from time and time -- sci-fi features, gruesome horror flicks, and every other film fan's favorite, comedies.

Which leads us a film that has the tag line: "The fastest hands in the East versus the biggest mouth in the west." And if that is not enough of a warning to the average film-goer that a predictable, formulaic comedy lies ahead, then the film's poster, featuring grinning stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, should spell it out for you.

Jeff:

One of the pitfalls of being a film critic and attending four to five films a week is being exposed to the same movie trailer time and time again. "Rush Hour" was such a trailer. I've seen the trailer to "Rush Hour" at least 20 times, more than any other film so far this year. And from the first time I saw it, I knew it was a going to be a hit with its dynamic duo, Chan and Tucker.

This is the kind of film that we crtitics call a cotton candy movie -- it tastes great, it leaves you feeling full and satisfied, you know it isn't good for you, but you eat it anyway. Come on, another cop buddy movie, probably the most overused plot used in movies today. Let's face it, it's all about repackaging and new settings.

As Dave said, this time the best from the East meets the worst of the West, and the result is a hysterical and winning combination. Chan and Tucker are the perfect mismatched couple, one with fists flying and the other with his mouth flying. The fall movie season is off to a great start.

Dave: Great start, huh, Jeff? I'm certainly not about to judge the coming fall movies on a weak comedy that only the fast action kept together. As we all know, Jackie Chan is one of the biggest action stars in the world, thanks to his quick hands and mind-boggling choreographed stunts. That is exactly what is expected from him here, as in all of his other films. Unfortunately, he shares half the time on the screen with an obnoxious, wisecracking motor-mouth LAPD officer, played by Tucker ("The Fifth Element"), who is assigned to keep the visiting Chan character away from the FBI's pursuit of a kidnapper. Not since his hysterical debut in "Friday" has Tucker really made an impression. To put it bluntly, a little of Chris Tucker goes a long way.

Jeff: Weak? That statement is what's weak, Dave! Action wasn't the only element that kept "Rush Hour" from suffering in gridlock. Did your forget Jackie Chan's superb comic abilities? He just doesn't beat down 10 guys in a Chinese restaurant for cheap laughs. Chan makes us laugh in a different way than Tucker does. His humor is honest and genuine. You're trying to tell me that you didn't laugh with Chan while he sang along with the rock song "War," or the many times throughout the film he tried to fit in while being a fish-out-of water, a stranger in a strange land?

Tucker was funny, Dave, (no doubt getting inspiration for his role from Eddie Murphy) although he was dependent on Chan's charming personality to counterbalance his crass and crude comedic style. OK, "Rush Hour" lifted jokes and bits from "48 Hours," "Twins," "Beverly Hills Cop" and many others, but so what? This time it works, with great results. The audience went bonkers! I went bonkers! Remember?

Dave:

The audience was in contempt, Jeff. And, no, I didn't forget Chan's ability for comic relief, which is what I meant in describing his phenom as an action star to begin with. It is expected. What is not expected is the lame dialogue that is passed off as humor because of Tucker's animated voice or his charismatic delivery. Just because I laughed a few times doesn't mean I forgot about the many times I was supposed to -- and didn't. Furthermore, a plot line that lacks originality (even in the standard buddy cop film genre) needs to be called to attention -- and then ridiculed. You know, if you're looking for a "Rush Hour," jump in your car and head for the I-15/ US-95 "Spaghetti Bowl" between 4 and 6 p.m. and just think that this is exactly what you're missing.

Jeff:

Sorry, Dave. My suggestion is to see "Rush Hour" if you want to laugh out loud at the insanity of Chris Tucker, and applaud Jackie Chan as he jumps from bus to building. In fact, "Rush Hour" is the place to be, only this time you're confined to your theater seat for two hours of the best kind of traffic jam this side of Summerlin.

MOVIE BUZZ

Ben on the "Boiler":

"Armageddon" star Ben Affleck is in talks to star as an aggressive yuppie stockbroker in "Boiler Room," according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film deals with the high-pressure world of Wall Street "boiler rooms," where young stockbrokers peddle highly dubious stock to unsuspecting buyers.

Cuba "Chills" out:

Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. may star in "Chill Factor" for Warner Bros. Filming should get under way in October. The film, which also stars Skeet Ulrich ("Scream," "The Newton Boys"), is an adventure story in which the two main characters (Gooding and Ulrich) have to keep a deadly material below 50 degrees.

Indy 4 update:

In a recent interview for Spanish magazine Fotograms, Harrison Ford confirmed that work on the next "Indiana Jones" film is moving forward. Ford says: "(The film is) in an advanced phase, because it's a production expected for the summer 2000," which would mean the film would most likely open in 2001.

NAME THAT FLICK

Dave Fetzer was the first to call and correctly guess last week's quote: "Glad to meet you, kid. You're a real horse's ass," spoken by Paul Newman in "The Sting." Way to go, Dave! Now, take a powder, Dave -- the heat is on!

For this week, who said this and in what film: "Also in this house dwells Pseudolus, slave to his son. Pseudolus is probably my favorite character in the piece, a role of enormous variety and nuance, and played by an actor of such versatility, such magnificence ... Let me put it this way. I play the part"?

Does it sound familiar? If you think you know, call The Movie Guys Hotline at 225-9026 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Be sure to spell your name, and leave your daytime phone number, and if you're the first correct caller/e-mailer, we will print your name right here in our column for the entire Las Vegas Valley to read.

See you next week!

THE MOVIE GUYS, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears Fridays in the Sun (additional material provided by Thomas Feeney). You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Las Vegas Weekly magazine and watch their reviews every Friday on Channel 3's 11 p.m. newscast. Plus, check them out online at: www.lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/movies.

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