Crime Story

Chan's most recent film takes him out of his familiar element of goofy mugging and broad slapstick, and returns him to his roots (a la the original Police Story) as a hard-boiled cop with a penchant for irritability and justice at all costs. As Inspector Eddie Chan, he's assigned to the kidnapping of a wealthy Hong Kong real estate owner (Cheng) by a powerful consortium of Hong Kong leaders (including a fellow from Chan's own police force, played by Samo Hung). Suffice to say, if you enjoyed Police Story, you'll love this one just as much. Hardly any new ground is broken here, with female characters relegated to the background as usual and fearless Hong Kong police firing 10,000 rounds per scene. There are a number of crazed stunt set pieces, although as exhilarating as they may be, they might easily be dismissed as variations of better bits from previous Chan films. There's nothing here to rival the mind-numbing helicopter dangle-cum-chase from Chan's Police Story III: Supercop, but then, this brilliant actor/stuntman is beginning to show his age. Rumor has it that Chan has begun shooting upwards of twelve films each year, in an effort to stockpile his good looks and thereby appear to age not a bit as time goes by. Sounds a bit Dorian Gray-ish to me, and you have to wonder how many of those films will end up being any good, but that's another subject altogether. On the film's plus side, high-powered explosion nuts will get a bang (no pun intended, honest) out of Crime Story's extremely satisfying climax. Rarely do we get to see such impressive fireballs engulf screaming extras as we do here. It's all so... Jackie, and if you're a fan, you won't be disappointed. Again, though, there's not much new here at all, though with Jackie Chan, that's hardly the point. Good triumphs, evil is vanquished, and things “get blowed up real good.” Cool, man.