“Stop hitting me! Try hitting her, okay?” —Jackie
Today’s quick review: Operation Condor. Jackie (Jackie Chan), a daring treasure hunter, is called in by the United Nations to recover a fortune in Nazi gold hidden in the Sahara Desert during the closing days of World War II. Together with Ada (Carol Cheng), a UN attache, and Elsa (Eva Cobo de Garcia), the granddaughter of the German officer who buried the gold, Jackie braves mercenaries, thieves, and the desert to locate the long-lost Nazi base.
Operation Condor is a comedy action adventure starring Jackie Chan. Operation Condor serves up Chan’s signature blend of physical comedy and martial arts action, this time dressed in the clothing of the adventure genre. The movie is one of Chan’s more polished films as far as its stunts and humor are concerned. However, its one major failing is a plot that barely hangs together, with story beats that are chosen purely to fuel the action.
More so than even Jackie Chan’s other work, Operation Condor has a knack for physical comedy. The accident-prone trio of Jackie, Ada, and Elsa turns every fight scene into a round robin of mayhem. Their fortunes change rapidly as they gain and lose the upper hand against the thugs who are after the treasure. Excellent timing, creative stunts, protracted fights, and several impressive set pieces make the action a treat from start to finish.
Operation Condor is a strong pick for any fans of Jackie Chan, or anyone who’s in the mood for a skillful and charming action comedy. The story’s tenuous logic and minimal character development keep the premise from reaching its full potential, but the strength of the stunt work and humor is more than enough to carry the film. Give it a watch when you feel like something breezy and fun.
For another Jackie Chan adventure starring the same character, try Armour of God or Chinese Zodiac. For one with more of a spy feel to it, try Who Am I? or Jackie Chan’s First Strike. For a classic adventure movie with a similar premise and a more developed story, try Raiders of the Lost Ark.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for top-notch stunt work and enjoyable comedy.