It might appear that "Shanghai Noon" is little more than "Rush Hour" set in the Wild West, but there are more than a few improvements made to that rather formulaic film.
First of all, they've lost shrill irritant Chris Tucker and replaced him with the infinitely less annoying Owen Wilson. And . . . well, isn't the fact that Chris Tucker is gone enough reason to see this movie?
If it isn't, well, there's another, even better reason —Jackie Chan. This fast-paced action-comedy is surely the best thing he's made in North America and even rivals some of his better Hong Kong film work. It's slick, extremely funny and just plain fun, and it goes to show that Chan doesn't really need Tucker to have a hit.
As for Wilson, he's a more than adequate replacement. In fact, there are times when the deadpan actor threatens to steal the film out from under Chan — that is, until Chan's feet and fists start flying again.
The plot pairs the two of them in the Wild West, circa 1881. Chon Wang (Chan) is a Chinese imperial guard who has been sent to America to retrieve the kidnapped princess, Pei Pei (Lucy Liu).
However, the train that Chon and three other guards are riding to Nevada is shanghaied by Roy O'Bannon (Wilson) and his band of desperadoes. Fortunately, Chon is able to foil the robbery attempt, which ends with Roy being betrayed by his gang.
So this reluctant odd couple finds itself forced together by necessity — with Wang trying to find a reliable guide and Roy hoping to get his hands on the imperial treasure.
But their troubles are only getting started. The two men are being hunted by a bloodthirsty U.S. marshal (Xander Berkeley), while the princess is forced to perform manual labor at a slave camp run by a Chinese outcast (Roger Yuan).
On whole, it's a surprisingly good effort for first-time director Tom Dey, especially since he's having to direct large-scale action scenes and a story by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, two of the writers behind "Lethal Weapon 4."
This script is a far cry from that dud, however, and it includes some very funny odes to "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," Sergio Leone's spaghetti Westerns and even Chan's Chinese "Drunken Master" movies.
However, one serious misstep on the part of the filmmakers is the inclusion of rock music to the score, such as Z.Z. Top's "La Grange," and worse, Aerosmith's blaring "Back in the Saddle."
But that's a minor quibble and can be forgiven, especially given the plentiful comic action scenes, which feature Chan fighting at various times with the aid of moose antlers, a rope and horseshoe, a sheriff's badge and a pine tree.
Performancewise, he's never been more relaxed, though that may be a reflection of Wilson's company — his one-liners carry the film through a couple of sluggish spots.
By the way, in case you're a Jackie Chan neophyte, remember to stick around for the outtakes at the end of the movie.
"Shanghai Noon" is rated PG-13 for violent martial-arts action and gunplay, occasional profanity, simulated drug use (a peace pipe), a couple of vulgar gags, use of racial epithets and brief partial male nudity. Running time: 110 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com