THE TUXEDO [2002] Jackie Chan, Jennifer Love Hewitt ; 12A

With Jackie now well established in Hollywood it was about time he produced a movie that he showcased alone, without the help of a lead sharing actor, like Chris Tucker in the 'Rush Hour' movies or Owen Wilson in 'Shanghai Noon'. Unfortunately this movie does nothing to help prove he can hold his own in at the western box office. Although annoyingly for fans, it's not really Chan's fault that this movie doesn't cut it. He is, as you would expect, as likeable as ever but this movie really doesn't allow Chan to show off the things is he good at. All the fight scenes, though perfectly adequate, are just your typical Hollywood run of the mill stuff, with the lead probably strapped into more wires than a safety conscious abseiler. Usually there wouldn't be anything wrong with this, but seeing as Jackie could have performed every single stunt and fight scene unaided himself for real, you have to wonder why he was cast in the first place. The action though is well structured and the film itself is also of good form, the problem is the movie has about as much substance as a watered down diet-coke, and for me, this was the movies primary failing. Yes, the movie is of course supposed to be tongue and cheek, but there is know pause what so ever for a reality check. Which even in the most openly silly movies, is a dead certain necessity. In a nut shell, Jackie's talents are wasted and even though Jennifer Love Hewitt is tasty eye candy, after two or three cleavage shots, even that starts to get boring. 'The Tuxedo' isn't terrible and for the most part it's quite watchable, but if your looking for your usual martial arts kicks (if you excuse the pun), then you had best look else were.

2/5