This is certainly not surprising to---to see a cent percent recommendation for a movie of this quality. Despite being a comic movie, Shanghai Knights simply has its share of class to manage to work with all sorts of audiences, even the fans of more sensible cinema. Why? Because the movie is extremely well made, as a universal movie that works with just about every person. Everyone I believe can relate to this movie in one way or another. Some can help relate with the fantastic, funny action done by the extremely likeable Jackie Chan, while others can do it with arguably Hollywood’s most talented comedy actor in Owen Wilson.
Both of them, despite being as different as Chalk and Cheese, managed to capture my interest at a time when I was between enjoying my fav. video game. That’s a class in its own way. Not many people can quit what they’re doing, if they like it, for just any comic movie. And that’s where Shanghai Knights scores and instantly becomes special. It’s no ’’Dude, where’s my car?’’ that is being viewed. We don’t see funny non-actors like Ashton Kutcher going around here and there trying to crack some jokes and failing every single time. Owen Wilson is an effortlessly funny guy, and Jackie Chan, despite being such a big action star, ventures into Owen Wilson’s genre and gives an equally entertaining performance.
Both Chan (Chon Wang) and Wilson (Roy O’Bannon) travel from Shanghai to London with a motive in mind. How the sequence of events take place and how the comic situations get laced into the movie form the crux of this all-the-way entertaining comedy. Shanghai Knights is perhaps something that is made for the entire family. There are some scenes that might not be too appropriate for viewership of children but none of them gets to the limit of vulgarity. The genre is explored lightly with everything executed as per the situation and no such funny situation is forced in that looks uncalled for! The movie perfects some of its contemporaries in the department of slick editing by being approximately just below two hours yet having every necessary scene explored with good detail and emphasis. The technique used in the movie depends on capturing the chemistry between the both lead actors as well as the comic stunts by Chan. Both these crucial parts of the movie are handled well. The direction thus becomes sublime.
Performances are a BIG PLUS for the movie. Jackie Chan looks every bit the character he is. He shows that he can be funny without making a joke of himself. He easily does all his stunts and emotes brilliantly as per the requirement in all of them. His expressions show that he knows what he is doing. Another feather in the well decorated cap of this highly acclaimed international star!
Owen Wilson is HILARIOUS. The guy steals the show. Period. I personally felt after this movie that Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler might end up having a run for their money with Owen Wilson winning all these accolades for his performance in the movie. His sequences romancing the ladies, as well as his chemistry with Chan, both are electrifyingly hilarious. One just can’t imagine any other actor pulling of this role. And with ’’Behind Enemy Lines’’, a well acclaimed serious role, Owen has proven his versatility and is bound to rise higher in the industry. Two thumbs way up! Even the supporting cast does a decent job!
Overall, Shanghai Knights, take my word for it, is one of the best comedies made in Hollywood. It’s just not easy to make a good sequel for a hit action-comedy like ’’Shanghai Noon’’. Therefore hats of to the makers for pulling this one off. The movie surely deserves ONE watch. Then, trust me, may be it would get hard to ignore second, third, fourth, or even infinite watches!