Today’s quick review: Rumble in the Bronx. Keung (Jackie Chan) has come to New York to attend his Uncle Bill’s (Bill Tung) wedding. As part of his retirement, Uncle Bill has decided to sell his supermarket in the Bronx. While Bill goes on his honeymoon, Keung decides to stick around to help out the market’s new owner, Elaine (Anita Mui). But when a street gang attempts to rob the store, Keung gets embroiled in an increasingly violent conflict.
Rumble in the Bronx is a martial arts action movie with comedy elements. Rumble in the Bronx pits a young martial arts expert against a gang of violent thugs who are terrorizing his uncle’s New York neighborhood. The movie takes the usual Jackie Chan formula and shifts it slightly, dropping some slapstick and comedy in favor of weightier stunts and a more serious conflict. The result is a fast-paced action movie showcasing Jackie Chan’s talents.
Rumble in the Bronx skews more mature than most of Jackie Chan’s work. The fights are more violent, the stakes are higher, and the film is more willing to kill and injure its characters. These changes let the movie indulge in more intense stunts, showing off Jackie Chan’s prowess as a fighter even more than his knack for martial arts slapstick. The fight choreography is top-notch, while a couple of impressive set pieces give the film some raw spectacle.
But in spite of its more serious tone, Rumble in the Bronx avoids becoming too gritty. Jackie Chan’s trademark humor is still present, if more restrained than usual. The comedy isn’t as elaborate as usual, but there’s a steady stream of it throughout the movie. The plot isn’t brilliant, but it has a few sweet moments and manages to drive the action quite well. The mix of levity and drama is slightly uneven but works on tehe whole.
Watch Rumble in the Bronx when you’re in the mood for sharp martial arts action. Hard-hitting stunt work makes Rumble in the Bronx one of Jackie Chan’s more robust offerings, while its slightly darker tone doesn’t detract from its comedy or its charm. Skip it if you dislike Jackie Chan. For another Jackie Chan action adventure movie with impressive stunts, try Who Am I?. For a more serious martial arts movie in a similar vein, try The Protector.
6.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for excellent martial arts coupled with a decent story.