Starring: Jackie Chan, Steve
Coogan, Jim Broadbent
Cert: PG
Basically, it’s the late
19th Century in London (England as Hollywood feels it necessary to
always remind us) and Phileas Fogg (Coogan) makes a bet with Lord Kelvin
(Broadbent) that he can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. The wager is
accepted and he travels with his Asian/French valet, Passepartout (Chan). Along
the way they are impeded by an evil Chinese general, Lord Kelvin’s cohorts, and
certain elements of their own ineptitude.
I went into this film with
trepidation on a couple of counts:
1. I am a big Chan fan and have
been incredibly disappointed with his later offerings electing sfx over his
trademark stuntwork. The thought of him playing ‘comedy side-kick’ was not a
good one.
2. The American critics slated
Coogan for his cardboard acting and a decidedly dodgy script.
I came out of this film
absolutely elated.
This is a Jackie Chan film. Despite the
premise that it is all about Fogg travelling the world, the story focuses on the
valet’s instigation in the wager, his tireless kung-foo efforts to keep them on
track and a sub plot involving the General and a jade Buddha. This is Chan going
back before his Rush Hour days and
concentrating on the physical comedy he built his career and fan base on. Yes
there are wires but then there have
always been wires and he is 50. Watch out for an old Chan pal
cameo.
Coogan is the mouthpiece of this
duo providing the verbal comedy. His acting and dialogue is a bit stiff but then
I saw it that it was because that was the character he was playing. That
atypical English gent; socially inept, culturally naïve, anally retentive, etc.
I found him to be perfectly believable during those moments when he was required
to show proper emotions.
Also included is a plethora of
cameos: Roy Schneider, Owen & Luke Wilson, John Cleese, Kathy Bates, Macy
Gray and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Doubtful that this will spawn a
franchise of sequels (thank God!) but at least it gives Chan a bit more
credibility in the movie making stakes.
WARNING: Leave as soon as the
credits start rolling. There are NO funny outtakes to be seen. Instead is a
cheesy, kiddie-sung ‘Love The World’ type song which made me think of that
gawd-awful Small World ride at
Disney. Then that gawd-awful Small World
song from that Disney ride came on and now I can’t get it out of my
head!
It’s a World of laughter, a World of tears
… AAAAAARGH!
