RUSH HOUR 3

First Contact: Lt. Commander
Final Score: Lieutenant

The best moment in the film is when Inspector John (1st name rarely used in the series) Lee and Detective James Carter both use their famous "You go..I go" routine to punch out a sadistic French cop (Roman Polanski) for...touching underage girls or violating their proctological civil rights? Either way, it didn't matter as the duo dances off into the distance- about as happy all this crap is over,as we are?

Laking most of the comedy and even tension of the first two films (2 in particular,) the comfort levels between Chan and Tucker pretty much saves the film. The plot for the first real time IS just an excuse for the action.

Chan's stunts work well, but in 3 he seems to more running from adversaries (including Ziyi Zhang's "mom" (?) as an aging, triad ninja bitch) and lucking out in dispatching them, than full out fighting- as say in the Shanghai Noon/Knights movies.

Also, the protecting of an adoptive brother gone bad, just doesn't hold the same weight as the excellent John Lone trying to launder $500 billion & itching to send Lee to spiritually reunite with his dad,that he killed.

Tucker, while still funny as hell- is wearing out his welcome. His humor is quite offensive at times. Still, he gets gets off a good Who's on First joke piece & some pro-American jokes with scene stealer, Yvan Attal as a local cabbie.

Still, the object of affection in this one a lovely, but bald French flash-dancer (Noemie Lenoir) lacks that weird chemistry found with Elizabeth Pena (Are they or Aren't they not- doing it) or the great,but arrogantly evil Ziyi Zhang (They both like each other, but are divided by good and evil-a comical forerunner to infamous Live Free or Die Hard mano-a-mujer battle.)

In addition, the presence of the sultry Roselyn Sanchez, working her dangerous charms over a game Chan is sorely missed in this flick.

Director Brett Ratner's eye is on target for this one. However, he truly lacks the detail or fun- he showed on his first two epics. Also, it would be nice if the camera didn't turn away (like it was ashamed ) when the bad guys get their "final" comeuppance.