Film Review: Rush Hour 3 (2007)

The third instalment in the Rush Hour series, released in 2007, appears to be a prime example of the "rule" that the third film in a series starts to decline in quality. Rush Hour 3, while not entirely devoid of entertainment value, fails to live up to the expectations set by the first two films in the franchise, which began with the 1998 action-comedy.

The plot of Rush Hour 3 picks up six years after the events depicted in Rush Hour 2. LAPD Detective James Carter, played by Chris Tucker, has been demoted to a traffic cop but still finds himself joining forces with his old friend, Hong Kong police inspector Lee, portrayed by Jackie Chan. Together, they investigate the attempted assassination of Chinese ambassador Solon Han, played by Tzi Ma. It is revealed that Han is targeted because of his knowledge of the Chinese triads, which are being investigated by the World Criminal Court under the leadership of Varden Reynard, played by Max von Sydow. The assassin, Kenji, played by Hiroyuki Sanada, turns out to be Lee's foster brother. The trail leads to Paris, where Lee and Carter seek Geneviève, played by Noémie Lenoir, a burlesque performer and Kenji's former girlfriend who may have valuable information about the triads.

Upon first glance, it seems that director Brett Ratner is content with not reinventing the wheel. Consequently, he uses the same formula that worked in the previous two films – the "buddy buddy" dynamic between the quiet, action-oriented straight man Chan and the motormouth comedian Tucker. However, it is precisely the use of this formula that makes Rush Hour 3 feel unoriginal and stale.

The six years that have passed between the third and second films also show that some of the actors, particularly Chan, have aged. Additionally, it appears that their hearts may not be fully invested in the project. This is evident in Chan's case during the famous end title blooper reel, which does not involve much of his own stunts.

To compensate for this, more emphasis is placed on comedy and Tucker's character. However, the quality of the humour provided by scriptwriter Jeff Nathanson leaves much to be desired. Some of the gags, such as the scene in which a French police official, played by Roman Polanski, conducts an anal examination of the protagonists, come across as poor taste, especially in light of certain off-screen scandals.

Nathanson and Ratner attempt to breathe some fresh life into the film by setting it in Paris. However, this leads to even more uninspired jokes based on post-Iraq War anti-American sentiments. Noémie Lenoir, the model playing Geneviève, adds little more than eye candy, while veteran character actor Max von Sydow delivers a forgettable one-note performance reminiscent of Tom Wilkinson's in the first film. Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada, who was trying to make a name for himself in the West, is wasted in a cheap, melodramatic subplot.

Despite being rejected by critics, Rush Hour 3 managed to find success at the box office. However, Chan, Tucker, and ultimately Ratner wisely decided not to push their luck further, and Rush Hour 3 became the final installment in the series.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

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