Six years later and another sequel into this money making franchise. That rushing sensation that we have grown accustomed to seems to have stalled. "Rush hour 3" keeps it safe by following the same tired formula between Chinese Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker). Actually the the movie seems to have a few scenes that are cut and pasted from previous Rush Hour's thrown in with a plot twist that takes place in Paris.

 

The movie starts off with Lee guarding Chinese Ambassador Han (Tzi Ma) who is in Los Angeles about to reveal a secret plot before the World Criminal Court and Carter who is doing a funny sing and dance routine while directing traffic. When Carter spots Lee jumping through traffic running after the assassin, he leaves his post and follows Lee. The assassin is Kenji (Hiroyuki Sanada), lo and behold, Lee’s childhood "brother". Face to face with Kenji, Lee lets him escape to kill again.

 

When the World Criminal Court Director Varden Reynard (Max Von Sydow) goes to Paris protecting Han’s 20-year-old daughter, Soo Yung (Jingchu Zhang), Carter and Lee follow. They soon become entangled with the largest organized crime family in the world, the Triads over a secrete conspiracy, and a French police chief, Detective Revi (Roman Polanski) that welcomes the duo to his town very harshly.

 

The French are well known for its naughtiness, rudeness and director Brett Ratner delivers both. Especially when French taxi driver, George (Yves Attal), constantly insults Americans with comments that are realistic with today's current headlines. Yes we get a glimpse of how the world truly feels about Americans as a result from this flawed government.

 

Old lessons are learned about friendship, family and loyalty. But one of the biggest maybe how one can easily become corrupted and lose ones self by going over the edge, but it is always a good thing if you have someone to slap you back down to reality. As in the case with the French taxi driver who thinks he's an International spy.

 

For some reason director Brett Ratner utlilized this movie to publicly diss Halle Berry. I'm guessing this was maybe his sweet revenge over her, I am assuming turning down an invitation to his womanizing ways.

 

I must say I enjoyed the film or maybe it was because I have not seen Chris Tucker on screen in a very long time and he does reminds us why he considered one of the funniest men alive. The action scenes do not pack the same punch, and alot of the jokes are not that funny even though you will chuckle throughout the entire film.