Honestly, this was a film I expected not to like, but I came away with the sincere hope that the Motion Picture Academy will remember Jackie Chan come Oscar time. Don’t get me wrong, Jaden Smith as Dre Parker is a talented actor and one day he will be a master his craft, but Jackie Chan is a master now.
The movie is long at 2 hour and twenty minutes and I kept waiting for it to reach the plot points of the original Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio vehicle. It did so, but only after providing us with a travelogue of China’s beautiful scenery. Frankly, I spent a lot of time wondering if this movie wouldn’t be tighter if they dropped about 20 minutes of scenery because, you know, I get it: the movie was shot on location in China – no soundstage, no digital photo insertion.
The problem is that if you saw the 1984 movie, you’ve already seen this movie and you know how it turns out. So the verdict? Go see the movie. Enjoy Jackie Chan’s performance. Watch Jaden Smith continue to learn the craft that one day he will rule because he is a very talented actor. Enjoy this movie and the real and apparent chemistry between Smith and Chan. It’s a great way to kill 2 hours (and 20 minutes).