As I’m sure many of our Asian-oriented (heh) Dopers know, Mr. Chan has been a pretty hot commodity in the Hong Kong movie business for several decades now, one of the Bruce Lee-wannabes who actually made it big. For a while, he was even making some decent inroads in the United States, what with the (re-)release of several of his older movies, as well as American-made stuff like the Rush Hour and Shanghai Knights films.
But now, it seems to me like he’s on a decline these days; the only American projects he can get are some second-rate efforts like The Tuxedo and The Medallion, and even his Hong Kong work seems to be slowing down as well. I imagine his age might have something to do with this, since a 50-year-old Chan can’t be as agile today as in his youth, but I admit that I don’t know if anything else is leading to his reduced output.
So, anyway, what’s up with the Jackster these days? Is he taking a semi-sabbatical, or is his cinematic bankability just ain’t what it used to be? Does anyone even care about him any more?
I love Jackie Chan, but the man is getting up there in age and can’t be expected to break every bone in his body like he used to. Also, as much as I love his Hong Kong films (the Drunken Masters, Project A, Supercop, etc.), most of his American movies have not been up to the same level of quality. The Rush Hours and Shanghai Noons were entertaining enough, but putting Chan in action-comedies with an American comic relief partner takes a lot of heat off him having to do constant fighting and stuntwork. I didn’t even have any desire to see his more recent efforts like The Tuxedo, but I hear I didn’t miss much.
Furthermore, I understand the American studios simply won’t (or can’t) insure Chan against injuries while shooting, so he is not allowed to do his own stunts anymore. That was always a major part of his charm and appeal, and the business decision has led to “watered-down” Jackie Chan movies. Still, he is a much-loved cult figure with the Jackie Chan Adventures cartoon series and everything else, and I’d dare say Jackie Chan is much more recognizable in America today than Bruce Lee or any other Asian film stars or martial artists.
I think time worked against Chan in his American career. He first tried to break into the American market in 1980 but didn’t find an audience and went back to building a huge career in Hong Kong. He finally did make it in America in 1996 but by then he was 42 and the length of his time as an action star was going to be short. Chan probably could still succeed in character roles if he chose to (he’s a natural comedian) but it’s unlikely he will want to demote himself back to supporting parts.
Much as any aging action star, Jackie Chan could build himself in plum supporting roles but ego will hinder that transition. The part of the Emperor of China in Ying Xiong (“Hero”) was apparently his for the taking but he passed it up to do… what? The Tuxedo? In many ways it was a tailor made part, too – the only thing was that he would have to reign in his natural exuberance and playfulness and play the part absolutely straight and project imperialness like a force of nature.
If I were Chan I’d look to the careers of older stars whose earlier work depended on lots of physical comedy/movement – The Governator, Robin Williams, Jackie Gleason, John Ritter, Kirk Douglas, Steve Martin, Sean Connery and Lucille Ball – and segue into slower paced movies with lots of opportunities for him to stretch as an actor. When was the last time Chan played a true bad ass? Or the “old master” type? Or played a character in makeup?
He’s not washed up just yet, but I’m not that excited about his upcoming movie schedule. i don’t even have high hopes for Rush Hour 3 because Chris Tucker has been off his game so long he’ll probably grate a lot more than he used to amuse.
And the worst part about that Tuxedo flick wasn’t even Jackie Chan, but the fact that they have JLH showing off her “assets” as often as they could. While I can appreciate that she wants to be taken seriously as an actress… c’mon! Jennifer - we know you can’t act, at least play to your strengths!
As usual, **Askia **brings the goods. I like Chan and enjoy his movies but he’s getting up there in age and can’t really play to his strengths anymore so he should focus on other areas he needs improvement in, like actual acting.
And Rex: Jennifer Love Hewitt has strengths? Even as eye candy, she’s exceedingly plain.
The Jackie Chan Adventures was a very good cartoon. I don’t think this will help with any “washed up” perception though, cartoons are kind of the entertainment ghetto.
I agree with Askia, and would like to add that he’s a natural born comedian. Shanghai Knights and Noon showed this more than ever before. Especially the sequel. I loved the way he segued into “Singin’ in the Rain”. The man has clearly studied the works of Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd.
However, considering how Hollywood treats minorities, I’m afraid that apart from stupid action movies, he’ll only get offered roles as the quirky sidekick.
As can be noticed by clicking on the titles in this record, every film that he has been in for the last five years has (with only one exception) failed to earn back its cost at the box office.
Probably so. It’s not a question of being a minority though, since black and Latinos do get a variety of roles. Unfortunately, Asian men are typically limited to being computer geeks, chop-socky martial artist types, or comic relief. It’s a safe bet that Jackie won’t be offered a role as a romantic lead in any Hollywood film.
Oh, wow, this is the first time I’ve heard that story. It’s not as if The Empreror was a bit role, either, since he even had that major fighting scene in flashback halfway through the movie.
That, and the fact that Tucker rediscovered Jesus between RH1 and RH2, so his cussin’ ain’t what it used to be. Fortunately half of RH2 was shot in Hong Kong, so my family and I still get some kicks playing “name that locale”.
rjung. I read that tidbit in the Hero “trivia” section of imdb.com, so take it for what it’s worth. Blew me away, though. I mean, Jet Li apparently took a pay cut to appear in it as Nameless and that was a solid career move. Had Jackie Chan managed to pull off the part of the emperor, this thread wouldn’t even be here. (I admit that Daoming Chen – who played the emperor of Qin – was suitably regal and had the perfect gruff voice.)
JThunder. If Dudley Moore, Eddie Murphy and John Belushi could be comedic romantic leads, Chan can, too. He tried it once in Gorgeous (1999) and should have done more films in this vein. I’m wracking my brain, here, but the last time I remember a male Asian romantic lead in a US distributed film was Tony Leung Ka Fai in L’Amant (The Lover, 1992). I don’t believe even Ken Watanabe or Yun-Fat Chow have done this (although Chow in Crouching Tiger was close.)
Chris Tucker and I met once, looOOOoong time ago, at a house party in Decatur in the late eighties. Skinny funny black dude who used to talk muuuuch shit. I can’t say I liked him much, but then we were both teenagers. I’m sure I was obnoxious, too. My claim to fame is that I beat him at Tetris, and he beat me at Mike Tyson’s Punch Out.
The Tuxedo: production and marketing 85M Worldwide gross 104M
Shanghai Knights: P&M 75M WWG 104M
Rush Hour II (prod. 90M(estimateM at 30M)est total 120M WWG 347
Shanghai Noon: P&M 80M WWG 99M
Granted, Drunken Master looks like it probably lost money, The medallion doesn’t have cost numbers, and was probably a big loss. And 80 days was a huge 80M negative flop, but it’s not quite as bad as all but one.
According to imdb.com, *Drunken Master * was originally released in Hong Kong in 1994. It was re-released in the US by Miramax in 2000. So the monies it made in the US is essentially gravy. The actual cost of the movie was around 2 million. Maybe not a huge hit but a respectable one. That terrific fight scene at the end, btw, was choreographed by Jackie after the director quit.
I for one, am glad that’s cleared up. I kept looking at the link thinking, “Drunken Master was a hella good movie. No way it should have lost money.”
Is Dudley Moore Asian? Nope. Eddie Murphy? Nope. John Belushi? Not the last time I looked. (And FTR, while John Belushi does play a husband on TV, it’s hardly a romantic role.)
And that’s the problem. In theory, Jackie Chan should be perfectly capable of playing a romantic lead… but it’s not going to happen. Not anytime soon. Not the way Hollywood works. One might as well ask for a black guy to play the dashing hero in a 1930’s film.
That wasn’t a Hollywood prodution. It was a Hong Kong export.
JThunder. Oh, I wasn’t disagreeing with you about limited roles for Asians in Hollywood. My post was intended to be a wistful, hopeful, “Well, if Dudley Moore can do, it…” I think Jackie could pull this off in the right Hong Kong production. FYI, Jim Belushi is the live one on TV. I was thinking of his brother John in Continental Divide.
Also, there were dashing black male heroes in the Oscar Micheaux movies of the 30s, 40s and 50s – but Micheaux was an independent filmmaker, and as you rightly pointed out, this wouldn’t have happened in the big studios. (Not until Carmen.)
I recall that after Jackie’s mother died in Canberra he spoke of getting his father to retire and travel the world with him. Jackie also produced Traces of the Dragon: Jackie Chan & His Lost Family, an absolutely fascinating history of his family. It is discussed here
Ah, understood. Yes, you’re right; it would be possible. Unfortunately, there seems to be little demand for Asian male romantic leads, from either Hollywood or the general populace.
I’m not even sure I’d count Eddie Murphy as a romantic comedic male lead these days; all I ever see him doing these days are questionable “comedic” projects like The Nutty Professor and The Haunted Mansion.
I’m not holding my breath waiting for an American film with an Asian male romantic lead. Last time we had one of those was Mulan, IIRC, and even Captain Shang needed the “martial arts expert” stereotype.
