New Police Story

Review by Clint Morris

While his countless fans were left scratching their heads after sitting through scrappy studio efforts like The Tuxedo and The Medallion - Jackie Chan was yanking out what was on his. His head, that is.

Yep, by the time the eminent martial artist decided it was time to use that return ticket home - after cashing in his chips to do the Hollywood thing with Rush Hour (1998), one of his only good U.S efforts - he was pulling out his pelt in frustration.

Hollywood had used Jackie Chan like a cheap Sunset hooker. Though they paid up front, they had no idea what to do with him when they got him back home. Result? One disillusioned action hero, one legion of letdown fans.

The good news? Chan's back home, Chan's making movies in his backyard again, and most markedly, the first new cab off the rank is a new sequel to his classic Police Story.

One more bit of good news? It could be Chan's best film yet.

First things first, it's a bit of a subterfuge to say New Police Story follows on from the other instalments in the series, because it doesn't. It's a fresh tale.

In some respects, it's as different as home-brand cola to Coke - not a hell of a lot, but enough so that you'll notice the disparity. Unlike one of the latter soda offerings though, both old and new Police Story's are well gassed, and brimming with flavoursome content.

Chan plays a washed-up, booze-hound copper who's trying to live with the fact that his entire team was wiped out by some nasty bank robbers. When a rookie cop is put on the case, he convinces the pessimistic inspector to return to the case - but can he control his demons long enough to catch the rogues?

Whilst Hollywood was starting to use Chan as merely a stuntman or comedic clown in films, Benny Chan's New Police Story makes fine use of him, furthering him as both an actor and martial artist. This isn't the slapstick crony of Owen Wilson in Shanghai Noon or potential love interest of Jennifer Love Hewitt in The Tuxedo, but a serious actor proving he's much more than pratfalls and wirework. Sure, he does do a multitude of stunts still (after all, that's his calling card), but his performance and character are a lot more appropriate and a lot more challenging than most of his roles of late - and Chan seems a lot more comfy here.

You'll appreciate the change, and if you've never seen Chan in anything but a U.S production, realise his potential as well. New Police Story is Chan at his best. Come for the subtitles, stay for the spectacle.

3.5 out of 5

New Police Story
Australian release: Friday the 11th of November, 2005 (Limited release: Reading Cinemas only)
Cast: Jackie Chan, Nicholas Tse Ting-fung, Charlie Yeung Choi-nei, Charlene Choi.
Director: Benny Chan.
Website: Click here.

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