Shanghai Noon: Gary Cooper Jackie Ain’t

Rated PG-13

Jackie Chan fans, saddle up and gallop into Shanghai Noon! Brace yourselves for a cowboy “buddy” picture with endless “The ‘Ol West” movie send-ups.

Mysterious East meets Rip-roaring West in the 1880s when Chon Wang (Jackie Chan), member of the Emperor’s Imperial Guard, journeys from the Forbidden City to Carson City to rescue the kidnaped Princess Pei Pei (Lucy Lui). The princess’s captor, Lo Fong (Roger Yuan), an Imperial Guard captain turned traitor, rules a railroad construction camp, exploiting his own people as laborers. When Lo Fong demands a million gold pieces for Pei Pei’s life Jackie, three other Imperial Guards and Jackie’s uncle, the royal interpreter, high-tail it to America with the ransom.

Jackie meets his future partner during a typical Wild West experience — a train robbery. Outlaw Roy O’Bannon (Owen Wilson) and his motley gang of three hop on board Jackie’s train, rob the passengers and “blow up” the safe.

Roy, a “kinder, gentler” desperado, draws the line at shooting passengers. The new guy in Roy’s gang, however, mutates into a raging psycho who shoots and kills Jackie’s kindly uncle. All heck breaks loose as Jackie, seeking revenge, attacks the gang on the train. Hey, catch the logrolling contest between Jackie and Roy aboard the flatcar!

The path to delightful duoship proves hard for Jackie and Roy. Inspite of their best efforts, bonding occurs. It begins after Jackie and the outlaws fall off the train, and Jackie wanders the desert searching for Carson City. He happens upon Roy, buried up to his neck in the sand, vultures picking at his head. (Guess Roy ticked off his compatriots.) Jackie and Roy strike a deal — directions for chopsticks. Chopsticks?

After meeting up again, Roy decides karma dictates they team up for good. A Fred and Ethel Mertz relationship develops.

Hurling gag after gag, the movie keeps you laughing. The script never drags. The action careens without letup. Jackie displays his martial arts and acrobatic dexterity, with innovative stunts to match the circumstances. He executes only one “death-defying” feat, but you’ll “feel the pain” really bad.

Princess Pei Pei and Jackie’s American-Indian “wife” (don’t ask), join in the action, each using wits and fighting skills to save the guys from disasters. During the final show-down between Jackie and Lo Fong, Pei Pei attacks the latter with kicks and punches belying her pampered princess past.

Despite the wild antics, Shanghai Noon introduces themes of racism (against Indians and Chinese), the Chinese immigrants’ backbreaking role in building our railroads, and rejection of the Chinese code of unquestioned obedience. Minorities as extras shatter the “white” West movie stereotype. A kindly husband and wife teach tolerance for folks from another culture.

The take-offs of Western cliches abound. Yet, Shanghai Noon adds innovations like Ninja sheriff’s badge and death by oyster shell. Finally, during Jackie’s and Lo Fong’s showdown, remember John Donne’s admonition: “…never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

Lynn I. Miller

When not practicing public interest law in Washington, D.C., Lynn I. Miller reviews books and movies for Crescent Blues. She lives with her husband and two cats, “Q” and Gracie, and enjoys a symbiotic relationship with her donor heart.