It’s safe to say that most of the Jackie Chan fanatics out there already know about the effect that Rumble in the Bronx had on Jackie Chan’s career. But I’m going to talk about it anyway. After a few failed attempts at becoming a star in America with films like The Big Brawl (which I thought was underrated), Cannonball Run (also underrated), and The Protector (which is downright boring), Stanley Tong and Jackie teamed up to make a movie that would appeal to Western audiences. That movie being Rumble in the Bronx which has Hong Kong style fight scenes, but they filmed it in English with mostly non-Chinese actors and left out most of the cultural gags so that it would be accessible to Western audiences. New Line Cinema bought the rights for it, dubbed it, cut some scenes out, and released in America where it became a big hit at the box office. Jackie Chan had finally reached stardom in Hollywood. But does that automatically make it a good movie?
Rumble in the Bronx stars Jackie Chan as Keung, a Hong Kong cop, who goes to New York for his uncle’s wedding. While there, he antagonizes a gang who persistently try to get even with him. Eventually, the gang becomes the target of a crime syndicate when one of the gang members steals diamonds from them. Keung decides to befriend the gang and help them bring the crime syndicate to justice.
Rumble in the Bronx stars Jackie Chan as Keung, a Hong Kong cop, who goes to New York for his uncle’s wedding. While there, he antagonizes a gang who persistently try to get even with him. Eventually, the gang becomes the target of a crime syndicate when one of the gang members steals diamonds from them. Keung decides to befriend the gang and help them bring the crime syndicate to justice.
Unlike Jackie Chan’s early, less successful attempts at reaching an American audience, he actually got to choreograph the fight scenes and they look great. There are two main fights in the movie (both of which are kinda short) while most of the movie is taken up by some exciting chase scenes. Some have criticised the hovercraft finale because it’s seen as mindless destruction. But I actually kinda enjoy it. Sure, it would’ve been more fitting to end the movie with one of Jackie's signature fight scenes, but I still thought it was an exciting climax. Seeing Jackie Chan on top of a hovercraft while it crashes into cars and buildings was a lot of fun.
Besides the fight scenes, I also really enjoy the comedy in this movie (both intentional and unintentional). There’s some funny dialogue, some good slapstick, and even some clever setups. As for the unintentional comedy, there’s a multitude of trivial flubs in this movie like how the kid plays with his gaming device with no game in it or how they fix a hovercraft using duct tape. I thought it was pretty funny to listen to how Americans talk according to the Chinese screenwriters. Also, the gang never feels like a threat. They just kinda act like brainless children. Even though Rumble is rated R, it presents an almost cartoon-like view of the Bronx.
Besides the fight scenes, I also really enjoy the comedy in this movie (both intentional and unintentional). There’s some funny dialogue, some good slapstick, and even some clever setups. As for the unintentional comedy, there’s a multitude of trivial flubs in this movie like how the kid plays with his gaming device with no game in it or how they fix a hovercraft using duct tape. I thought it was pretty funny to listen to how Americans talk according to the Chinese screenwriters. Also, the gang never feels like a threat. They just kinda act like brainless children. Even though Rumble is rated R, it presents an almost cartoon-like view of the Bronx.
Rumble in the Bronx is a really stupid, almost cartoony action movie with great action scenes and both intentional and unintentional comedy throughout. The characters and story fail to impress, but seeing Jackie Chan beating people up is still very enjoyable nonetheless. If it’s any good is arguable, but I really don’t care; I thought it was entertaining.
Images from HKMDb, KiaiKick, and Can't Stop the Movies
Images from HKMDb, KiaiKick, and Can't Stop the Movies