Today’s quick review: Twin Dragons. John Ma (Jackie Chan), a renowned conductor and pianist, and Boomer (Jackie Chan), a mechanic and street tough, are twins who were separated at birth. When the two run into each other in Hong Kong, they become entangled in one another’s lives, with John caught up in Boomer’s gang troubles and Boomer whisked into John’s wealthy lifestyle.
Twin Dragons is an action comedy that introduces mistaken identity to the martial arts genre. Jackie Chan stars as a pair of twins with very different lives. When a series of coincidences causes them to switch places, chaos ensues. Twin Dragons is a movie with a simple premise and decent execution. Neither its plot nor its characters are all that special, but its action and comedy are consistently entertaining.
Twin Dragons squeezes a surprising amount of humor from its premise. From simple mistaken identity to elaborate attempts at keeping the extra brother hidden, the movie touches on just about every conceivable consequence of its setup. The jokes are predictable but entertaining, and Jackie goes the extra mile to keep the humor flowing smoothly.
Twin Dragons lacks the jaw-dropping set piece stunts of Jackie Chan’s other work, but it does not skimp on car crashes, explosions, or skillful choreography. Jackie’s footwork is as fast as ever, and he elegantly fumbles his way through battles in a way that is remarkable to watch. The action alone makes Twin Dragons a worthwhile watch, although the comedy carries more of the weight than usual.
Watch Twin Dragons when you are in the mood for a light comedy with a healthy dose of action. Though not Jackie Chan’s best work, a steady stream of clever gags and inventive stunts makes the movie entertaining throughout. The thin plot and improbable setup place Twin Dragons firmly in the popcorn category, so look elsewhere if you are looking for a well-told story.
6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for entertaining action and comedy.