Where I Watched It: Netflix
English Audio Description?: Yes
When I saw the #1 movie on Netflix was a 2023 release starrring Jackie Chan and John Cena, my interest was tantalized ever so slightly. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw Jackie Chan in something, and I’ve been pretty happy with the trajectory of Cena’s career. He really seems to understand the joke, and he seems pretty up for anything. If you question that, watch Blockers.
I wasn’t really thinking that this would be a Chinese production, but it’s fairly well executed, considering I’m really not familiar with too many Chinese made films. They seem to not always make the American zeitgeist transformation. not that this straight to netflix experience will be remembered for very long, but it’s actually a pretty OK action comedy.
it’s hard to explain the plot, but it revolves around a facility, a heist, revenge, and betrayal. It’s not really the most inventive plot, though at one point during the heist, the group doing the thievery conduct their own sandstorm with which to bamboozle their way through. Later, Chan and Cena become unlikely allies, who cannot trust each other, but must to get to each others desired results.
The best part here is that because this is a Chinese production, Jackie is on top. Jackie is treated like the serious man he is. It’s a return to form from his early days when we dubbed his early flicks like Rumble in The Bronx. He wasn’t the butt of the joke, and he certainly wasn’t a walking stereotype. Do you understand teh words that are coming out of my mouth?
Instead, Cena is game to be made fun of, as his mandarin is not so good. So he’s the one who ends up saying things that don’t make any sense, and Chan is the one correcting him. For that alone, this film reaches boss level status. i can’t imagine how exhausting it must have been for Chan to do all those serious Kung fu films, only to come over here and be a walking punchline. Successful, but he couldn’t just play the hero.
The audio description does a good job of tracking the fight sequences and special effects. Of course, both Chan and Cena are up for the stunt work, so that makes for a more interesting action film. However, it does kinda just sit in this mold, where it doesn’t really feel like it brings anything new, and while Chan and Cena certainly do flip in a positive way the dynamic of who the comedic relief is, I also can’t claim that this is a great pairing that needs to be done again and again. Some action duos just have the right chemistry, whether it’s Danny Glover and Mel Gibson, or Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. Some people just have excellent chemistry. Some people, just have alright chemistry that works for one film. I think for the most part we enjoyed Charlie Sheen and Chris Tucker in money Talks, but no one needed that reteam.
If you are a fan of either of the actors, or you just love some well budgeted action films, then give this a look. If you are currently trying to rank A24 films from best to worst, this isn’t your thing.
Final Grade: B-
