Even though the setting and the plot of "Rush Hour 2" makes no difference in the fun and excitement from the original 1998 "Rush Hour", starring the dynamic duo of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. After all they still convey awesome chemistry together the action and stunts are just as if even more fun to watch it'll make your heads feel dizzy. But like in the first "Rush Hour" movie, the action and the stunts usurp the storyline once again. The plot once again lack in anything original, however this time around, the villains and the supporting performers are lowered to more questionable purposes.
In the sequel we find Detective James Carter (Tucker) and Chief Inspector Lee (Chan) are on sabbatical in China but are actually on a police investigation which are vital clues to Lee's father's mysterious death many years ago. In a vicarious situation, Lee and Carter have become involved in an American Embassy bombing conspiracy and have become focal targets to a diabolical faction called The Triad led by crime lord Ricky Tan (John Lone). This mystery leads our heroes from China, back to Los Angeles and then to Nevada to unravel the mystery behind this conspiracy.
While Tucker and Chan are still equally dynamic as they were before, with Chan's high-flying and laid-back character that's contrary to Tucker's non-stop blabbering, the comedy and the action are are both handed out in equal proportions. One of the big differences is that in "Rush Hour 2" Carter is the foreigner here. One of the newer refreshing elements to this sequel is that Carter has now taken an interest for The Beach Boys and Lee has found a greater appreciation for hip-hop music. The same schtick involving racial barriers is continued here, more than before mind you, and Tucker's quick-witted one-liners will likely make you laugh till you wet your pants. Some of the more funnier scenes take place in a karaoke bar, at a massage parlour and some seductive interactions with Secret Agent Isabella Molina (Rosalyn Sanchez). While the jokes are pretty much still the same as before, it's still all in good fun, even if there's not enough material to spawn a sequel, let alone a trilogy like in 2007.
While Don Cheadle and Jeremy Piven are amazing in their cameo roles, I found the primary weakness comes from the less than stellar supporting cast and villains. Sanchez comes across as playing an important role here as Secret Agent Isabella, but the subplots involving this sultry spy feels awkward and not very well received. Sure a strong female supporting protagonist would be a great addition to our heroes, however Isabella's role falls stale and lacks the integrity this role greatly needs. Zhang Ziyi as one of the Triad's villainous' Hu Li may provide some seductive evilness to the plot, sadly her scenes were few and far between and seems to lack in character development. Meanwhile John Lone as the leading bad guy here is just like the first villain in the series, very formulaic and clichéd and lacks the charisma to really hold one's interest. Even the fight scenes and the climax feels just like seeing the first installment without really offering anything new to the series. Even the bad guy's demises in the end repeats itself.
"Rush Hour 2" is an exciting, light on the brains action- comedy that will surely entertain you for the next 90 minutes. The main flaw is a lot of things stay the same and very little changes. Still anyone who enjoyed the first film will surely enjoy this sequel but there is no need to watch the first one before watching the second film. Once the credit roll, don't leave your seats. The bloopers will surely make you laugh your heads off. It's like the dessert after finishing the main course.
In the sequel we find Detective James Carter (Tucker) and Chief Inspector Lee (Chan) are on sabbatical in China but are actually on a police investigation which are vital clues to Lee's father's mysterious death many years ago. In a vicarious situation, Lee and Carter have become involved in an American Embassy bombing conspiracy and have become focal targets to a diabolical faction called The Triad led by crime lord Ricky Tan (John Lone). This mystery leads our heroes from China, back to Los Angeles and then to Nevada to unravel the mystery behind this conspiracy.
While Tucker and Chan are still equally dynamic as they were before, with Chan's high-flying and laid-back character that's contrary to Tucker's non-stop blabbering, the comedy and the action are are both handed out in equal proportions. One of the big differences is that in "Rush Hour 2" Carter is the foreigner here. One of the newer refreshing elements to this sequel is that Carter has now taken an interest for The Beach Boys and Lee has found a greater appreciation for hip-hop music. The same schtick involving racial barriers is continued here, more than before mind you, and Tucker's quick-witted one-liners will likely make you laugh till you wet your pants. Some of the more funnier scenes take place in a karaoke bar, at a massage parlour and some seductive interactions with Secret Agent Isabella Molina (Rosalyn Sanchez). While the jokes are pretty much still the same as before, it's still all in good fun, even if there's not enough material to spawn a sequel, let alone a trilogy like in 2007.
While Don Cheadle and Jeremy Piven are amazing in their cameo roles, I found the primary weakness comes from the less than stellar supporting cast and villains. Sanchez comes across as playing an important role here as Secret Agent Isabella, but the subplots involving this sultry spy feels awkward and not very well received. Sure a strong female supporting protagonist would be a great addition to our heroes, however Isabella's role falls stale and lacks the integrity this role greatly needs. Zhang Ziyi as one of the Triad's villainous' Hu Li may provide some seductive evilness to the plot, sadly her scenes were few and far between and seems to lack in character development. Meanwhile John Lone as the leading bad guy here is just like the first villain in the series, very formulaic and clichéd and lacks the charisma to really hold one's interest. Even the fight scenes and the climax feels just like seeing the first installment without really offering anything new to the series. Even the bad guy's demises in the end repeats itself.
"Rush Hour 2" is an exciting, light on the brains action- comedy that will surely entertain you for the next 90 minutes. The main flaw is a lot of things stay the same and very little changes. Still anyone who enjoyed the first film will surely enjoy this sequel but there is no need to watch the first one before watching the second film. Once the credit roll, don't leave your seats. The bloopers will surely make you laugh your heads off. It's like the dessert after finishing the main course.