Reviews, Recommendations And Friendly Warnings

Denise Felder, Staff Writer

Shanghai Noon

RATING:

Yee-haw! East meets west in Jackie Chan's western romp "Shanghi Noon." Chan plays up his fish-out-of water status in this rip-roaring adventure. And of course his high-flying feet and hands never fail to fascinate. Chan is a bumbling Imperial guard in the Forbidden City who is dispatched to the states in pursuit of a kidnapped Princess Pei Pei (Lucy Liu). Along the way he joins forces with Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson), a small-time bandit who is lucky with the ladies but not with the stagecoaches. The two make a good team and their chemistry makes the film fun to watch. And Lucy Liu is a properly petulant princess with a few good kicks of her own. But the standout, as always, is Chan. Nobody will accuse him of subtle acting, but his adorable face and his high-energy fights make "Shanghi Noon" an enjoyable ride. (Read the full review)
-- Debra Scott