|
This is Jackie's first Cantonese-language film in nearly three years,
and I have to say that I have been looking forward in seeing The
Accidental Spy. Maybe it was that feeling of expecting something
really special that made me realise when the film was over that
it was not what I had in mind. When I went to see a Jackie Chan
film in the past, I expected to see truly amazing stunts and fight
sequences to blow your mind. Now, with the realisation that Jackie
is well into middle age, you just have to accept the fact that Jackie
could not carry on doing those dangerous stunts that have made him
the superstar he is today. Instead, he has resorted to making his
films big and spectacular but with his trademark fight sequences
intact. He is still the master when it comes to fight-creativity,
coming up with new and exciting ways to beat the hell out of people
with his usual array of props.
Jackie
is Buck Yuen, a sports-shop salesman in Hong Kong who is bored with
his job and his mundane life. He wishes there is more excitement
in his life and dreams of being a spy, citing that he would love
to work for intelligence agencies. When he spoils a bank robbery
in the beginning of the film, he gets the attention of Many Liu
(Eric Tsang) who explains to him that he is searching for males
born in the year of 1958 and grew up in an orphanage. A Korean old
man called Park is trying to find his son before he dies, and Jackie
flies to Seoul to see Park, hoping that he can find his real father
too. Before Park dies, he asks Buck to play game of hide-and-seek
with him, which leads Buck to Istanbul where he uncovers a plot
where organisations are trying to find the Anthrax II virus. Park
was a secret agent and had taken the virus and now everyone is convinced
that Park had given the virus to Buck. A dealer called Zen wants
Buck to give the virus to him in exchange for the release of Ah
Yong (Vivian Hsu), a young girl Buck had befriended. The finale
comes when Buck chases Zen through the streets of Istanbul to get
the virus back, causing mayhem along the way.
Story-wise,
there is nothing here that you haven't seen in other films. In other
words, the script won't blow you away with its intricacies. The
only effect is the purpose of bringing Jackie to these exotic locations
where he can strut his stuff. The Seoul locations are underused,
and could be completely cut away, as there wasn't a need to it.
The locations used in Istanbul was better, especially the open market
sequence where Jackie is seen fighting without any clothes on. The
end chase sequence was also of a better quality, but the theme was
completely ripped off from Speed (a petroleum tanker is on fire
and if it slows down it would blow up, so the police has to clear
the roads etc.) There is a lot to enjoy in Accidental Spy, and Jackie
is in great shape as usual, performing some good stunts (and still
getting himself injured in the process) to please his fans. The
market scene was ingenious: Jackie having to protect his modesty
by using all sorts of items to cover up his special parts. But,
like Tom Cruise with MI:2, this is solely a Jackie Chan film, where
Jackie is the film. You are here to see Jackie perform, which results
in the supporting cast as bit-players.
Somehow,
as they want to flesh out the story, the film drags a bit, and seems
overrun at nearly two hours. You feel as if there are moments when
the story doesn't seem to flow, and only an excuse to get Jackie
into situations where he can perform again. The Accidental Spy isn't
a bad film, but it isn't a good one either. There are special moments
in the film that you'll like, but as a whole, there is more disappointment
than excitement. Maybe I had expected more, but the problem nowadays
is with Jackie Chan, you kind of expect great things from
the man.
|
