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Synopsis
Chan Ka Kui (Jackie
Chan), a Hong Kong police detective, arrests a crime boss operating a drug
ring, but the only witness he has to convict this person is the boss' secretary
(Brigitte Lin), who is less than cooperative. To prevent her from being
threatened by her former employer, Chan is assigned to protect her at all
times, despite her hostility towards him. Wisely thinking that she will be less
resistant to his help if she realizes the danger she is in, Chan has one of his
friends attack the woman in her home so that he can defend her. After the "home
invasion" episode, the witness agrees to return to Chan's own flat. There, she
is, however, discovered by his girlfriend (Maggie Cheung), who believes Chan is
being unfaithful to her. These events inevitably lead to a variety of
complications with which the remainder of the movie deals.
Analysis
Jackie Chan's Police Story, despite
its reputation, is not one of the performer's more entertaining efforts. In
fact, the movie ranges from maudlin to juvenile to just improbable. The action
sequences are, as always, enjoyable, but the remainder of the film is frankly
pretty bad.
The puerile humor is particularly dreadful. In one scene
depicting court proceedings, for example, an audio recording played of Chan and
the secretary speaking in his flat gives the impression that they are
discussing his genitals and a sexual encounter between them, much to Chan's
discomfort. The movie's other comic sketches are on about the same level.
Fortunately, the action sequences included in the film are
genuinely entertaining. The concluding fight sequence, set in a shopping mall,
is especially well done, even if some viewers may be annoyed by the general
helplessness of Chan's girlfriend.
The faults of Police Story are the same as those of
virtually every other Jackie Chan film, just more pronounced, and its virtues
are the same as well. Because these faults are more noticeable, however, the
movie is not as entertaining as are many of Chan's other efforts, although it
is still enjoyable as an action film.
Review by Keith Allen
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© 2004
movierapture@hotmail.com Keith
Allen. All rights reserved.
Revised 2005 |
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