Movie Reviews
Shanghai Knights
By Taylor Gibbons
Skiff Staff

It’s Oscar season, which means that for the last few weeks movie theaters have been glutted with what I like to call “prestige films.” Movies which the studios think, for one reason or another, might be good enough to garner them a little golden statue. Now, I’m not against the pursuit of artistic excellence by any means, but week after week of such movies can get a little old. It was a breath of fresh air, therefore, when I recently got a chance to see “Shanghai Knights.”

“Shanghai Knights,” like it’s predecessor “Shanghai Noon,” isn’t exactly what you’d call a film with lofty ambitions. Also like it’s predecessor, “Shanghai Knights” more than accomplishes what it sets out to. There may not be much prestige in making buddy action/comedies, but “Shanghai Knights” proves that you don’t have to have prestige to have a good time at the movies.

In “Shanghai Knights,” the second round of what could very well be turning into a “Shanghai” series, unlikely partners Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) and Roy O’Bannon (Owen Wilson) reunite in order to help avenge the death of Chon’s father. Their pursuit of the killer soon leads them to Great Britain, where they encounter the culprit, Lord Rathbone, a distant cousin of the Queen, who dreams of ascending to the throne. They also discover that Chon Wang’s sister, Chon Lin (Fann Wong), has Rathbone figured out and has in fact already made an attempt on his life. In addition to their own personal reasons for wanting to get rid of him, the trio of heroes also becomes aware of a plot to usurp both the British and Chinese thrones using a valuable artifact stolen from Chon and Lin’s father when he was murdered.

Much like in the case of “Shanghai Noon,” it’s not the story that’s important so much as the telling, and “Shanghai Knights” proves more than apt at spinning a compelling yarn. The movie alternates between relatively simple comedy and some assuredly complex martial arts, providing just enough variety to keep things bouncing along at an engaging pace. Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson are as ever a great on-screen duo. Chan’s tremendous talent for slapstick martial arts being perfectly complemented by Wilson’s dry, unassuming wit. And although no one would ever accuse Jackie Chan of having too much depth as an actor, “Shanghai Knights” does give him a few opportunities to show comedic chops only hinted at in his earlier movies.

Though enjoyable, “Shanghai Knights” is still a sequel, and like all sequels, it carries with it it’s requisite flaws. The storyline, while not necessarily the central focus of the movie, is nonetheless weak. I realized about halfway through the movie that I didn’t really care about the villains so much as a I cared about when I was going to see Jackie Chan fight them.

Additionally, bits of the movie feel especially contrived or unnecessary — for example, the director’s apparent desire to cram in cameos by every historical figure of the day for no apparent reason. Although it was certainly good in it’s own right, I have to admit that some parts of “Shanghai Knights” simply felt like a pale copy of “Shanghai Noon.”

Although it probably won’t ever get screened at The Modern, “Shanghai Knights” is nonetheless a movie worth seeing. It may not stick with you until the next day, or even until the car ride from the theater is over, but it will show you a good time for two hours, which is fine by me.

t.e.gibbons@tcu.edu