Monday, April 11, 2016

Robin-B-Hood (2006)

Original title: Bo Bui Gai Wak

Director: Benny Chan

Writers: Jackie Chan, Benny Chan, Alan Yuen

Composer: Fai Young Chan

Starring: Jackie Chan, Michael Hui, Louis Koo, Charlene Choi, Biao Yuen, Yuanyuan Gao, Teresa Carpio, Terence Yin

More info: IMDb

Tagline: This September! Crawl Baby crawl!

Plot: Thongs and Octopus accept a job from their landlord: Kidnap a baby. Soon, the baby awakens strong paternal feelings in the two crooks, leading to complications when it comes to handing him over to his possibly crazy gang boss grandfather.



My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again?  Maybe.

It's a Jackie Chan movie so that means silly-to-clever humor and jaw-dropping stunts and fights.  I don't care if a stunt or fight doesn't fit perfectly into the narrative (which they almost always, if not always do, with his pictures).  This man knows how to make entertaining as shit movies.  Period.  I could do with less of the super silly moments but Jackie is so adorable and fun that I easily forgive the over-the-topness of some of the baser jokes.  The stunts and fights are so much fun.  The bit that had Jackie descending an apartment building exterior by leaping from one air conditioner down to another had my heart racing.  He allows the camera to capture the artistry of it all in long, single shots.  Made in Hollywood, it would be quick edits without actually seeing the actor (or stunt double) do the stunt.  It's much more effective Jackie's way but then he's also a unique actor and one of the greatest performers since the beginning of cinema.  So why not a higher score?  It's two hours and six minutes long and it feels longer.  It goes and goes and goes.  Some scenes could've been deleted scenes (cool and fun deleted scenes) but you do get an awful lot of movie for your buck.  There's a moment where Jackie tries to bring someone back to life in the most ridiculous way of connecting himself to a car battery and transferring the electricity through his hands.  It sounds retarded as shit but damn if I didn't tear up a lot.  He sold a silly idea so well that I didn't care and let the tears fly.  That's talent.  The ending is a mindfuck that turns on its own end for a very satisfying conclusion.  The Weinstein Company Dragon Dynasty 2-disc DVD has a great looking anamorphic widescreen print with a slew of extras.  Don't be turned off by the 'baby' aspect.  It's a lot of fun and a well made film that will make you laugh, cheer and cry and all of it is well-earned.

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