Today’s quick review: The One. Yulaw (Jet Li) is a murderer who hunts down different versions of himself from across the Multiverse, kills them, and absorbs their power. After three years of killing, only one other version of him remains: Gabe Law (Jet Li), a valiant Los Angeles police officer who lives with his wife T.K. (Carla Gugino). As Yulaw stalks his last victim, two reality-hopping cops (Delroy Lindo and Jason Statham) race to stop him.
The One is a sci-fi martial arts action movie that pits a super-powered Jet Li against his murderous counterpart from another universe. The One funnels this premise into a fun, creative action movie that takes full advantage of Jet Li’s prowess as a martial artist. However, the movie pays minimal attention to its story. Its far-fetched premise, shallow characters, and one-note plot mean that, although its action is strong, it offers little else.
The One’s main draw is its slick martial arts action. The stunts are evenly split between Jet Li’s natural skills and special effects that showcase his powers as Yulaw. The special effects are blatantly artificial, but they fit well with the tone of the movie and aim to make the action as fast-paced and hard-hitting as possible. This healthy mix of traditional martial arts and superhuman powers gives the movie everything it needs on the action front.
The One’s story does not fare as well. The movie does the bare minimum needed to establish the premise, the characters, and what’s at stake but doesn’t go much farther than that. The characters are thin but have clear roles to play. The plot hits the expected beats, including some mistaken identity and plenty of action. But the story as a whole is a straight, no-frills execution of the premise with no interest in becoming anything more.
Watch The One when you’re in the mood for a popcorn action flick and aren’t too concerned about it making sense. The One pays less attention to its plot than other science fiction movies, but its stunts and superpowers make it a fun pick regardless. Steer clear if you’re looking for moving character, meaningful speculation, or a complicated plot. For a martial arts comedy with a similar touch of the extraordinary, try The Medallion.
5.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for energetic action hurt by a thin plot.