Short CHANged (Mr. Nice Guy (DVD))

Member Name: cmh4135

Product:	Mr. Nice Guy (DVD)
Date:	18/08/09 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, comedic, mindless

Disadvantages: Poor direction and rather lacking in classic Chan

++FILM ONLY REVIEW++

Most people, I suspect, will have seen a Chan movie at some stage even if you're not into martial arts (which I'm not). He's headlined some fairly mainstream movies over the last 15 or so years including the likes of the Rush Hour series and Tuxedo. In some ways Mr Nice Guy is a rather odd affair compared to these big hits being far more comedic and slapstick in feel.

Chan plays a TV chef, Jackie, who unwittingly gets caught up with an Australian reporter (Gabrielle Fitzpatrick) who has just scooped a video story about some drugs barons. The plot is simplicity itself: reporter has a video which two rival gangs must obtain before it goes public. Boot and suit one of the gangs, style the other in 70s psychedelic outfits, add the kung-fu comedic Chan and you'll have 2 hours of rather pointless, yet strangely compelling action.

This isn't a film for those who like good stories or believable action. It's not about that. It's a film for those who liked the original TV Batman series replete with "POW"s and "POOF"s. It's a film for those who appreciate Chapin-esque humour.

Wild stunts abound and Chan's ability to play the comedy hero is there in bucket loads. There's something that doesn't quite hang together here though. It has all the elements of a good Chan film but doesn't quite make it. Maybe it's the storyline - one wouldn't expect a crime drama to be quite so goofy. Maybe it's that the film has aged - it clearly wasn't a high budget affair in the first place (and product placements abound) and that it's now 12 or so years old shows. Despite clear editing there are some serious continuity errors, directorial mistakes and obvious stunt/effect mistakes. The thin plot, poor scripting and haggard formula conspires to make you feel a little short changed despite its two hour run time.

The direction (Sammo Hung, who also appears in a rather poor comedic role of which so much more could have been made) is, I think, rather poor. Gratuitous slow motion adds nothing as it is used inappropriately and not saved for effect. Rather than being a great Chan martial arts showcase there's a little too much reliance placed on explosion and plate glass and, indeed the whole final scene literally disintegrates with no martial input. It's rather disappointing.

Much of what I say above might lead you to think that I didn't enjoy the film. On the contrary. Despite commenting several times that it was a rather pointless watch the two hours passed with ease and I found myself laughing on many occasion. I just feel that Chan fans will feel rather short-changed here, there's just not enough classic Chan.

Summary: Not the strongest of Chan films