Today’s quick review: Skiptrace. To take down drug kingpin Victor Wong (Winston Chao) and save his goddaughter Samantha (Fan Bingbing), Hong Kong cop Bennie Chan (Jackie Chan) must travel to Russia and bring back Connor Watts (Johnny Knoxville), a talkative American who witnessed Wong commit a murder. But Connor has no intention of going quietly, so Bennie must drag his reluctant prisoner halfway across Asia while trying to avoid Wong’s men.
Skiptrace is a buddy action comedy that pairs a serious Chinese cop with a crafty American scoundrel. Skiptrace features good action, a decent plot, and cheap but reasonably effective humor. Skiptrace lacks the quality to be a memorable film, but it gets enough right to work as a serviceable popcorn flick. However, those who dislike the buddy dynamic or the forced style won’t get enough out of it to make the movie worthwhile.
Skiptrace’s action follows a different pattern than Jackie Chan’s usual work. His chaotic, acrobatic style still influences the action scenes, but it is no longer the main focus. Instead, the movie relies on peculiar environments and prop-based humor to carry its action, with only a splash of martial arts. The action is consistently entertaining but rarely impressive, good enough for the movie but a step down from Jackie Chan’s typical quality.
Skiptrace has an energetic tone that serves it well. The plot moves along at a rapid clip, a few stylistic quirks give the film some punch, and the soundtrack helps fill in the lulls. However, none of these affectations are entirely natural, and Skiptrace has to work to maintain the tone it sets for itself. These flaws will be minor for anyone who likes what the film is going for, but they will grate on anyone who isn’t already sold.
Watch Skiptrace if you are in the mood for a light and somewhat amusing action comedy. Skiptrace lacks the standout action and humor of Jackie Chan’s other films, but it makes up for part of this deficiency with a fun tone and a decent script. Skip it if you are looking for a martial arts film or a dedicated comedy. For a Jackie Chan movie with better martial arts and more comedy, check out Rush Hour.
5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for decent entertainment missing the spark of Jackie Chan at his best.