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Shanghai Knights
on DVD (2003)
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Brief synopsis of Shanghai Knights
In this entertaining sequel to SHANGHAI NOON, Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) and Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson) are reunited on an adventure that leads them from their home in the USA to England. Upon hearing of his father's murder in China at the hands of the English Lord Rathbone (Aidan Gillen), Wang leaves his law-enforcing life in Nevada and heads east. In New York City, he tracks down Roy, who now works as a waiter/gigolo. After a close encounter with New York's finest, Wang and Roy travel to London, where they team up with Wang's sister, Lin (Fann Wong), also out to avenge their father's death. Their search uncovers a plot to assassinate the royal family and brings them into contact with many touchstones of turn-of-the-20th-century British culture.
A fitting follow-up to Chan and Wilson's first pairing, SHANGHAI KNIGHTS takes the fish-out-of-water element of the original and doubles it, as both Wang and Roy navigate the highs and lows of Victorian London. Chan, as always, astounds with a series of acrobatic fight sequences that involves unusual accessories such as revolving doors, fruit stands, and Chinese vases. And Wilson once again aptly fills the role of the wisecracking opportunist with a conscience who has a wry quip for every occasion. Meanwhile, Fann Wong is luminous as Wang's high-kicking sister; Aidan Gillen sneers superbly as the scheming Rathbone, and Hong Kong legend Donnie Yen makes the most of his small role as Rathbone's co-conspirator. In addition to incorporating Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charlie Chaplin, and Jack the Ripper into the story, David Dobkin's amusing film also features knowing nods to SINGING IN THE RAIN and the Harold Lloyd classic SAFETY LAST.
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Critics Reviews
Radio Times
Jackie Chan's Chinese sheriff and Owen Wilson's slacker outlaw reteam and relocate to what is meant to be Victorian London (actually Prague) for this spry sequel to the immensely successful action comedy Shanghai Noon. After a brisk intro involving the theft of an Imperial seal and the murder of Chan's father, the action slows a little so they can plod through some unimaginative gags about the English (they drive on the wrong side of the road, have bad teeth and give strange names to food). However, Chan's action sequences are as spectacularly inventive and meticulously choreographed as ever — a fight scene that pays tribute to Singin' in the Rain is the real crowd-pleaser — while Wilson's trademark laid-back delivery remains amusingly off-beam.
Variety
"...Propelled by potent chemistry between Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, SHANGHAI KNIGHTS proves that, sometimes, bigger actually can be better. A hugely entertaining and more lavishly mounted follow-up to 2000's SHANGHAI NOON..."
Chicago Sun
"...SHANGHAI KNIGHTS has a nice mix of calculation and relaxed goofiness, and in Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, once again teams up two playful actors who manifestly enjoy playing their ridiculous roles..."
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