Shanghai Knights * (2003, Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Aidan Gillan, Fann Wong, Donnie Yen) – Classic Movie Review 12,925

Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson are back in the 2003 martial arts comedy action adventure film Shanghai Knights for a soppy, less amusing sequel to their 2000 hit Shanghai Noon.

This time sheriff Chon Wang (Jackie) and his American pal Roy O’Bannon (Owen) travel from the Wild West to England to avenge the death of Jackie’s father and rescue the stolen Imperial Seal of China, and so they have to confront evil Lord Nelson Rathbone – played with suitable lip-smacking relish by Aidan Gillan (from Queer As Folk).

The two stars stretch their likeability to the limit, with Jackie making the best of the pretty lame comedy, while struggling to do the stunts, and Wilson his usual smug and smirky self as he enjoys relishing the threadbare anti-British gags.

High spirits, a super-sleek production and a cheery mood just about get this harmless enough action comedy by, but no part three, please, guys!

It is again written by Miles Millar and Alfred Gough.

Songs: Roger Miller’s England Swings, Ray Davies’s All Day and All of the Night and Pete Townshend’s My Generation.

Also in the cast are Donnie Yen as Wu Chow, Fann Wong as Chon Lin, Tom Fisher as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Artie Doyle), Kim Chan as Chon Wang and Chon Lin’s father, Constantine Gregory as the Mayor of New York City, Gemma Jones as Queen Victoria, Aaron Johnson as Charlie Chaplin and Oliver Cotton as Jack the Ripper.

To add insult to injury, the scenes in London were largely filmed in Prague, Czech Republic (from 4 February 2002 to 21 June 2002). Apart from that, there are just as few establishing shots of famous London landmarks such as The House of Lords, Buckingham Palace and Madame Tussaud’s.

The 13-year-old Aaron Johnson [Aaron Taylor-Johnson] appears as a young Charlie Chaplin, depicted as a member of a London gang of street hooligans.

Shanghai Knights is directed by David Dobkin, runs 114 minutes, is made by All Knight, Jackie Chan Films Limited, Roger Birnbaum/ Gary Barber Productions, Spyglass Entertainment, Stillking and Touchstone Pictures, , is released by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, is written by Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, is shot by Adrian Biddle and Harvey Harrison, is produced by Jackie Chan, Roger Birnbaum, Jonathan Glickman and Gary Barber, is scored by Randy Edelman, and is designed by Allan Cameron.

It was released on February 7, 2003 (US).

Jackie Chan recalled that Faye Wong from his native Hong Kong was his first choice as Chon Lin, but Fann Wong was hired instead by mistake.

As of 2024, the announced Shanghai Dawn with Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson and Fann Wong has never materialised.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,925

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