Friday, January 10, 1997
As long as you’re not expecting a great plot and inspiring
acting, ‘First Strike’ will entertain you with incredibly executed
stunts and unbelievable action sequences.By Ricky Herzog
Daily Bruin Contributor
ypical action movies are often accused of having formulaic
plots, flat characters, and unbelievably over-the-top action
sequences. "Jackie Chan’s First Strike" is yet another plotless
culprit and, as a result, a highly entertaining cinematic
experience.
Does it matter that after being in the water for 20 minutes
action hero Jackie Chan’s ("Rumble in the Bronx") shirt is dry in
the next frame? Does it matter that the film is badly dubbed? Does
it matter that the action sequences are virtually all completely
over the top and unbelievable? Not at all. This is what makes
"First Strike" fun.
The film has obvious problems, but Chan more than makes up for
them. His patented blend of humor and action makes each otherwise
embarrassing film folly forgivable.
The premise of "First Strike," for example, is a giant action
film cliché. The plot involves the CIA and the "new" Russian
KGB vying to retrieve a stolen nuclear warhead. Yes, it sounds like
the film’s writers searched through James Bond archives to come up
with a plot.
But the movie doesn’t rely solely on the plot, and it never
pretends to. Instead the uninspired plot is merely a tool to move
the film from one amazing action sequence to the next.
The characters in the film are even worse than the storyline.
Chan plays a Hong Kong police officer who is used by both the CIA
and the Russian intelligence organization to help retrieve the
stolen nuclear warhead. But there is no point in delving into the
scarred emotions of a man torn between two plotting agencies;
Jackie Chan’s got work to do. He is too busy doing stunts to play
anyone other than himself. He is even named Jackie in the
movie.
The bad plot and worse characters, however, are easily
overshadowed by Jackie’s unique blend of humor and incredible
stunts. They are precisely what make this movie work.
Chan never takes himself too seriously. In one scene, before he
starts chasing an enemy across a snowcapped mountain, he quickly
buys a snow hat that is in the shape of a cute baby seal. He looks
ridiculous zooming around on a snowmobile with this hat on, but the
juxtaposition of danger and action with this silly humor gives the
movie a uniquely satisfying balance. Chan knows how to pull off the
action maneuver and joke simultaneously.
Unlike many other aspects of the film, the action scenes are
creative and inventive sequences, occurring in places from the
snowcapped mountains of the Ukraine to an underwater marine park in
Australia.
Along the way Chan seems to use anything and everything as a
weapon to defend himself; he wields brooms, ladders and mirrors as
if they were everyday weapons. The action is immaculately
choreographed and directed at a breakneck speed, which keeps
audiences wincing, laughing and cheering all at the same time.
Possibly the best example of Chan’s action genius involves a
marine park. Chan dukes it out with massive Russian intelligence
agents underwater in a tank filled with great white sharks. His
underpowered, outnumbered status makes his inevitable victories
barely believable, but exhilarating nevertheless.
The action sequences, however, are not all fun and games. Chan
does all his own stunts, and knowing that the hero really is at
risk at all times makes these tense scenes even more awe-inspiring.
In the past Chan nearly lost his life by accidentally falling 45
feet while filming "The Armour of God," and again when he was
sideswiped by a helicopter on the set of "Police Story 3."And in
"First Strike," audiences will get the feeling that Chan had his
share of close calls once again.
Outtakes are shown at the end of the movie, showing bloopers and
near misses from the action sequences. Watching these are almost as
much fun as the movie itself, and they serve to show how
intricately planned and complex the action scenes actually are.
Though it may not contain a highly original plot or any meaningful
messages, for an hour and a half of engaging escapism, "First
Strike" fulfills the role.
Grade: B
FILM: "Jackie Chan’s First Strike" opens today.
Jackie Chan stars as a Royal Hong Kong police officer in "Jackie
Chan’s First Strike."