Today’s quick review: Jackie Chan’s First Strike. Jackie (Jackie Chan), a Hong Kong police officer on loan to the CIA, goes to the Ukraine to investigate the sale of a nuclear weapon by Tsui (Jackson Lou), an international arms dealer. When the deal goes south, Jackie follows Tsui to Sydney, where he becomes embroiled in the arms dealer’s troubled family history.
Jackie Chan’s First Strike is an action adventure movie starring Jackie Chan. Like many of his movies, First Strike mostly serves as a vehicle for Jackie Chan’s signature style of martial arts comedy. The stunts are as impressive as ever, and First Strike offers a whole new set of props and locations for Jackie to play with. Jackie uses snowboards, stilts, and sharks to dazzle his enemies, doing it all with his characteristic flair for comedy.
First Strike’s greatest weakness is its plot. The story is never adequately explained, and Jackie pinballs from situation to situation with little explanation or motivation. In particular, the movie never justifies why Jackie is kept on the case after his initial assignment is over. The pieces of the puzzle are all there for a devoted fan, but the poor writing and limited characterization undermine what was already a generic story concept.
Watch Jackie Chan’s First Strike if you are in the mood for a light and inventive martial arts film. The stunts alone are enough to make the movie an enjoyable watch, and while the plot is a letdown, it does manage to keep the story moving. Skip it if you are looking for a movie with good writing to go with its action or if you dislike Jackie Chan.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for great action coupled with a mediocre plot.