Today’s quick review: New Police Story. Inspector Kwok-Wing Chan (Jackie Chan) loses everything when a gang of thrill-seeking bank robbers kills his entire team. Suspended from the force, Chan lapses into alcoholism and despair until he’s assigned a new partner, Frank Cheng (Nicholas Tse), who helps him get back on the case. Now the two cops must work together to track down Joe Kwan (Daniel Wu) and the other bank robbers before they strike again.
New Police Story is an action thriller and crime drama starring Jackie Chan. Although nominally a reboot of the Police Story series, New Police Story does not have much in common with its predecessors. The movie gambles on a new main character, a darker tone, and reduced comedy. Unfortunately, its gamble does not pay off. Poor acting, cartoonish villains, and a mishandled story put a damper on a viable premise and otherwise solid action.
New Police Story’s main problem is that it doesn’t handle its drama well. The basic premise is meant to be serious: an honest cop’s arrogance costs him his team, his job, and his fiance (Charlie Young). But the way it plays out is bizarre, relying on Joe Kwan and his team of athletes and gamers to do most of the heavy lifting. The result is a movie that has the grittiness of a crime drama but the villains and stunts of a popcorn action flick.
Those who can get past New Police Story’s story issues will find that does have something to offer. Jackie Chan’s stunt work is still impressive, and while the movie relies more on wires and special effects than Chan’s previous films, its action sequences are engaging and creative. But as far as the story and tone are concerned, New Police Story leaves a lot to be desired, making it a clear step down from Chan’s best.
For a more grounded crime drama from Jackie Chan that still manages to deliver action and comedy, try Police Story or Police Story 2. For their more action-oriented sequels, try Supercop or First Strike. For an action thriller about a failed cop who finds a new reason to live, check out Safe. For a smarter crime thriller about a criminal mastermind, try Inside Man or Law Abiding Citizen.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for decent action held back by a lackluster story and tonal inconsistencies.