After taming the Wild West in the action-adventure comedy “Shanghai Noon,” Chong Wang (Jackie Chan) and Roy O’Bannon (Owen Wilson) are at it again in London, in the action-packed sequel “Shanghai Knights,” directed by David Dobkin.
This time, Chong and Roy are out to settle a score in late 19th century London. After discovering his estranged father was murdered by a smarmy British lord out to steal the Imperial Seal Chong’s family watches over, Chong teams up with former sidekick Roy to seek revenge.
They soon discover Chong’s sister Lin, who vows to track down her father’s killer and retrieve the stolen seal. Soon Chong and Lin uncover a worldwide conspiracy to kill the British and Chinese royal families headed up by Lord Rathbone, who killed Chong and Lin’s father.
With the help of a jolly Scotland Yard inspector and an unruly street urchin, the gang gives London “a royal kick in the arse,” while Chong must keep romance-minded Roy away from his sister.
Wilson and Chan play off each other well, which makes their on-screen friendship enjoyable to watch. The comedy is light and fast-paced, and a bit corny at times, but it works because the movie isn’t supposed to be a brainteaser.
With multiple high-impact action sequences and intelligent comedy thrown into every scene, this movie proves to be an all-around good time for everyone. The film is filled with many humorous historical allusions to people such as Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chaplin and Jack the Ripper. The witty banter between Wilson and Chan kept the audience laughing the entire time. Also filled with many British clichés — such as girls with bad teeth — the film demonstrates a balance between action and comedy, keeping the film light-hearted.
Although some of the jokes are repeated from the original movie, one cannot help be sucked into laughing at them yet again. The crime-fighting duo serves up another platter of hilarious jokes and severe ass-kicking.
The only thing that is probably not so good about the movie is the soundtrack. If the filmmakers wanted to incorporate music into the scenes, they should have done so in such a way as to make more of an impact on the fight scenes. Good music would have given a feeling of intensity and excitement to the movie.
While the movie is not a masterpiece, audiences are sure to leave the theater doubled over in laughter.
