Jackie Chan spiffs up limp script in 'The Tuxedo'
By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service
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| THE TUXEDO (Rated PG-13, with action violence) Two Stars (Fair)
A silly premise, a magic tux that turns its wearer into a secret agent, is countered by the amiable humor of Jackie Chan who is the only thing that makes this film barely watchable. Jennifer Love Hewitt co-stars for first-time director Kevin Donovan. DreamWorks, 90 mins. |
If someone dull like, say, Jean-Claude Van Damme were the star of "The Tuxedo," we'd be talking about a full-blown turkey. But Chan is ingratiating enough to overcome most of the film's considerable failings.
And he continues to hone his skills as a light physical comedian with an obvious reverence for Buster Keaton and other silent movie legends.
Even co-star Jennifer Love Hewitt — an unlikely action star — elevates her game with Chan by her side. She's surprisingly confident, light on her feet, amusing and sexy.
But about that silly premise:
Chan is Jimmy Tong, a New York cab driver whose idea of action is to get a passenger through cross-town traffic in record time. Because of his quality driving, he's hired to chauffeur playboy millionaire Clark Devlin (Jason Isaacs).
Jimmy has no idea Devlin is a secret government agent — until an explosive "accident" puts the boss out of commission. Then Jimmy learns the secret to Devlin's abilities as a spy — a special tuxedo that enables the wearer to jump, flip, do martial arts, climb walls, and so much more.
Jimmy puts on the tux and takes over Devlin's assignment. The agency also gives him a rookie partner (Hewitt).
The point of this silly comedy is that a milquetoast cab driver named Jimmy turns into, well, Jackie Chan. What a surprise.
In his other recent franchises — the "Shanghai" and "Rush Hour" movies — Chan stresses comedy more than kicks and fisticuffs. Certainly, filmgoers are treated to martial arts action, but nothing as stressful or thrilling as in Chan's earlier films.
For the first time, for example, Chan uses wire work and other tricks to heighten some stunts. (Chan has previously been famous for doing everything in his movies for real.)
I suspect the 48-year-old Chan is leaning more on his considerable comedy skills as a way to lessen the need for overly physical stunts.
The direction by novice Kevin Donovan is unexceptional but adequate, though he clearly gets little help from the corny script cooked up by his four writers.
Rated PG-13, with action violence.
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