Artificial Effects Poor Substitute for Chan's Natural Ability

"The Tuxedo"

A poor script plus special effects -- blasphemy in the past for Chan -- dilute the fight sequences that are so crucial to his movies, leaving us with a slightly funny spoof on the Bond formula that never rises above average.

As a New York cabbie, Jimmy Tong (Chan) isn't getting any breaks.

His luck suddenly changes when his flashy driving skills get him a job as a chauffeur for the suave Clark Devlin (Jason Isaacs).

Mr. Devlin takes Jimmy under his lady-killing wing, assuring him that 90 percent of his charm and confidence is in the clothes and that the other 10 percent comes from the heart.

When an assassination attempt lands Devlin in the hospital, Jimmy soon realizes exactly what his employer means. Back at home, he tries on Devlin's prized tuxedo and discovers it does more than just look good -- it turns its wearer into a crime-fighting machine.

But with a great tuxedo comes great responsibility, and Jimmy quickly finds himself in the middle of a plot for world domination.

With the help of sexy scientist Del Blaine (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Jimmy has to hustle to save Mr. Devlin and prevent the poisoning of the world's water supply.

Chan proves that at age 48 he's still got the moves, but the new inclusion of special effects undermines his talents. The function of the tuxedo helps justify some of the more cartoonish sequences, as when Jimmy successfully slides down a building using only his hands as brakes, but in the man-on-man combat scenes Chan would fare better on his own.

Hewitt is decent in her role as Chan's sidekick, although her goofy, girl-next-door sugary sweetness sometimes comes into conflict with the tough, by-the-books demeanor of her character. The script often has her reciting speeches of uninspired, heavily memorized scientific jargon, but overall she does a good job getting through a fairly cake role.

There are a few highlights in the film, particularly when Chan is allowed to show off his stunts alongside his knack for comedy.

His performance of James Brown's "Sex Machine" delights, but fun moments can't compensate for the more fundamental problem of an uninteresting plot and cookie-cutter characters.

No one in particular is to blame for the tepid "Tuxedo," and in terms of your average action movie it's not half-bad. Knowing Chan, though, the audience has a right to expect more, and it seems that as his work becomes increasingly Hollywood, fans will be forced to return to his foreign classics to get their thrills.

The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu.