'Shanghai Knights' offers best of Chan's stunts, gags

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

SHANGHAI KNIGHTS (Rated PG-13 for action violence and sexual innuendo) Stars: Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson reunite in this wacky action-comedy that surpasses the popular "Shanghai Noon" in stunts, gags and mind-boggling anachronisms. David Dobkin directs. Touchstone, 107 minutes.

Though involving The Boxer Rebellion in Victorian England, "Shanghai Knights" could just as well be about boxer shorts in a Victoria's Secret store.

In other words, don't check it out for a history lesson. But then, who would?

Jackie Chan's action comedies have more in common with Bob Hope and Harold Lloyd flicks than with historical epics. That's why they get away with Wilson's modern slang and the use of rock music by The Who.

When we last saw Chan and Wilson as Chon Wang ("John Wayne," get it?) and Roy O'Bannon, they'd just finished an adventure in the Old West of the 1880s.

As "Knights" opens, Wang is a sheriff in Carson City, Nev., and O'Bannon has gone to New York to "invest" their money. In truth, he's squandered it on wine, women and song, and is now waiting tables.

Wang comes to see O'Bannon to get his money. He needs it to go to England to avenge the recent murder of his father. There is no money, but O'Bannon jumps at the chance to join Wang on another adventure.

In London, they also encounter Wang's sister Lin (Fann Wong), who's on a similar mission. Lin becomes the object of romantic comedy relief. O'Bannon consistently tries to hit on her (much to Wang's dismay).

To be honest, much of the plot that follows is forgettable. But that's not the point of this kind of film. It's about stunts and gags — and "Shanghai Knights" offers the most entertaining collection of any Chan film in years.

The veteran martial arts star stages elaborate fights INSIDE a hotel revolving door, in a lord's plush library, and on a Thames river barge.

He also challenges the memory of Harold Lloyd by hanging precariously from the arms of Big Ben.

Chan is also a self-proclaimed fan of musicals and idolizes Gene Kelly — so his stunt sequence in the style of the "Singing in the Rain" title number is an affectionate tribute.

While Chan is jumping, twirling and flipping, Wilson does the jokes. Nearly all his humor is wildly anachronistic, but that's part of the fun. It also helps broaden both the Western and youthful appeal of the "Shanghai" films.

Rated PG-13 for action violence and sexual innuendo.