6 out of 10
 

In Hong Kong, no little child ever be in need, because, every one of Jackie Chan's movies employs one as its entire storyline. The disabled child, the clever stunts, the acting so bad it screams, you certainly know what you're getting when you go to a Jackie Chan movie.

Regrettably for Mr Chan, what sells Jackie Chan movies in the East, stymies them in the West. Indeed, on a quality basis, "Rumble In The Bronx" would be more aptly titled, "Rumble In The Bowels". So the movie moguls came up with a simple answer: make a Jackie Chan movie where he's only half the story - and to some extent it works, albeit only because of his co-partner, Chris Tucker, a talented man of rubber who makes Jim Carrey look like a granite block, excels as his conceited, incompetent buddy cop, Carter.

Freed from any need to overact or recite lines, Chan is able to provide a colourful display of clever gymnastics with Tucker delivering a truly entertaining line in cocky arrogance. Yet despite being the best English-language Chan flick, it's still just a "Buddy Cop" genre B-movie of strung together clichés and cardboard cutout villain stereotypes. Once again, one is left with the distinct lack of realism. For instance, why can't the FBI, with all its resources and gizmos, crack a case that a couple of bunglers can solve in minutes? And how can gangsters infiltrate a top diplomatic event so easily?

As the final curtain comes down on its trite, predictable ending, it's certainly "Rush Hour" at the theatre exits.