MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Knights’ makes strong sequel–Grade B+
“Shanghai Knights” takes us back to the Old West only to then send us to a rain-soaked England where the unlikely duo of Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan gives us one of the best sequels to come out of Hollywood in a long time.
It is hard to make a movie that is funny these days. It seems like everything has already been done. Now try and make a sequel that is as good or better than the first movie, and you have a recipe for failure — but not this time.
The chemistry between Chan and Wilson is fresh and easy to watch. The two seem to have a great rapport on and off the screen, which is very evident in the work they do in this movie.
One of the best parts of this movie is how it seems to focus on the strong points of each of the actors involved. With Wilson, he is given a lot of space for his signature style of comic delivery and character development.
This was a nice change as in the first movie, he was relegated to the role of sidekick. I think one of the running jokes I enjoyed the most in this movie was the reference that both actors made to the other being their sidekick. But neither man took that role in this movie.
Chan also has come to understand his role. His fight choreography is probably the best I have seen in any of his recent movies. It is fun to watch him work so many aspects together into these scenes and still manage to make it look easy and painless.
His use of everything around him (and I do mean everything) is always a surprise. It is a treat to see how everyday objects can become weapons for him. He is truly one of the masters when it comes to creative martial arts
filmmaking.
Now I have to tell you that I loved the first movie. I was skeptical about this one because it was a sequel. But every nuance of the first is present here and then some. The “name dropping” of actual big names that was so present in the first is magnified here.
There are tributes to the Keystone Kops, Charlie Chaplin (though he was not even born at this time), and the best came in a direct tribute to one of the greatest film musicals ever made, “Singin’ in the Rain.” During perhaps the best scene of the entire movie, Chan breaks away from the fight sequence long enough to pay tribute to the song-and-dance number. This is a delightful moment and one that stuck with me the rest of the film.
Overall, this is a good movie. I think it was a little slow on the uptake, but once the action gets to London, the movie really takes off. Two stars and a great supporting cast make “Shanghai Knights” a brilliant comedy.
Justin Berry is working toward his second bachelor’s degree in theater performance. Comments can be sent to
justinsb26@hotmail.com.