Today’s quick review: Contract Killer. Fu (Jet Li), a young hitman struggling to make rent, partners with Norman Lu (Eric Tsang), a small-time con artist, to go after the $100 million bounty on the King of Killers, the man who killed a powerful Japanese businessman. To collect the money, they must beat Eiji Tsukamoto (Sato Keiji), the grandson of the victim, to the killer while staying clear of Lieutenant Chan’s (Simon Yam) investigation.
Contract Killer is a Hong Kong action comedy about a mismatched pair of hitmen trying to collect the score of a lifetime. Jet Li stars as Fu, a man with the skills for the job but who has a soft heart. Eric Tsang plays opposite him as Lu, a grifter whose bad decisions always land him in trouble. Modest comedy, satisfying action, and a decent plot make the movie an entertaining watch, if not an exceptional one.
Contract Killer has just enough going on to keep the audience engaged. Fu wrestling with his conscience, Lu trying to spin every situation to his advantage, and the mysterious identity of the King of Killers give the movie plenty of material to work with. The plot is not too complicated, but it does have one or two nice twists. And while the jokes are not spectacular, the characters are charming and fun to spend time with.
Contract Killer gets a little further with its action. Once the story gets going, Fu squares off against other killers. The fights make good use of the environment, using everything from tables and chairs to elevators to vary up the combat. Jet Li also gets to show off his martial arts skills against guns, swords, and a variety of improvised weaponry.
Contract Killer is a fine pick for action fans. Neither the story nor the spectacle can compare to the best the action genre has to offer, but they manage to be entertaining without making any major mistakes. Give it a shot if you’re willing to meet the movie halfway. Steer clear if you are looking for something that’s more innovative or impressive.
For a more aggressive Jet Li action movie, try War or The One. For a more introspective movie about a hitman with a conscience, try A Company Man or The Professional. For an even more outlandish comedy about an unconventional hitman, try The Whole Nine Yards or Mr. Right.
[6.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163818/). I give it a 6.5 for good fundamentals but not much more.