Wikipedia

Rush Hour(1998 film)

Rush Houris a 1998 Americanbuddy copaction comedy filmdirected byBrett Ratnerand written byJim KoufandRoss LaMannafrom a story by LaManna. It starsJackie ChanandChris Tuckeras mismatched police officers who are assigned to rescue a Chinese diplomat's abducted daughter.Tom Wilkinson,Chris PennandElizabeth Peñaplay supporting roles.

Rush Hour
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBrett Ratner
Screenplay by
Story byRoss LaManna
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAdam Greenberg
Edited byMark Helfrich
Music byLalo Schifrin
Production
company
Distributed byNew Line Cinema[1]
Release date
  • September 18, 1998(1998-09-18)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States[2]
Languages
  • English
  • Cantonese
Budget$33–35 million[3][4]
Box office$244 million[3]

Released on September 18, 1998, the film received positive reviews from critics and grossed over $244 million worldwide. Its box office commercial success led totwo sequels:Rush Hour 2(2001) andRush Hour 3(2007).

Plot

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On thelast day of British ruleof Hong Kong on June 30, 1997, Detective Inspector Lee of theRoyal Hong Kong Police Forceleads a raid at the wharf, hoping to arrest the unidentified, anonymouscrime lordJuntao. He finds only Sang, Juntao's right-hand man, who escapes in a boat. Lee recovers numerous Chinese cultural treasures stolen by Juntao, which he presents as a farewell victory gift to his departing superiors, Chinese consul Solon Han and Britishpolice commanderThomas Griffin.

Two months later after Han takes up his new diplomatic post in Los Angeles, Han's daughter Soo Yung is kidnapped by Sang while on her way to school. Han calls Lee to assist in the case, but theFBI,fearing that Lee's involvement could cause an international incident, pawns him off on theLAPD.Detective James Carter, a talented but obnoxious LAPD officer who is disliked by the rest of his precinct for his self-aggrandizing attitude, is tricked into "babysitting" Lee as punishment for botching a sting operation. When Carter finds out, he decides to solve the case. Carter takes Lee on a sightseeing tour, keeping him away from the embassy while contacting informants about the kidnapping. Lee gets into trouble when Carter tells him to follow his lead, resulting in Lee calling a black bartender theN-word,not knowing it is offensive. Several black patrons attack Lee as a result, forcing him to defeat them. Carter tries to prevent Lee from leaving him but Lee makes his own way to the Chinese Consulate, where Han and the FBI await news about his daughter. While arguing with Special Agent in Charge Warren Russ, Carter unwittingly negotiates with Sang, arranging a $50 millionransom drop.

The FBI traces the call to a warehouse, where a team of agents are killed byplastic explosive.Spotting Sang nearby, Lee and Carter give chase but he escapes, dropping the detonator. Carter's colleague, LAPD bomb expert Tania Johnson, traces it to Clive Cobb, the man arrested by Carter in the earlier botched sting operation. Lee presses Clive into revealing his business relationship with Juntao, whom he met at the Foo Chow restaurant inChinatown.Clive is initially unwilling to speak to the duo but Lee shows him a picture of Soo Yung, causing him to relent. Lee then begins to earn Carter's trust. Carter goes to the restaurant alone and sees a surveillance video of Juntao carrying Soo Yung into a van. Lee arrives and saves Carter from Juntao's syndicate, but they are taken off the case as the FBI blames them for the botched ransom drop, with Lee sent back to Hong Kong. However, Carter refuses to give up and appeals to Johnson for assistance to sneak on board Lee's plane, where he persuades the Hong Kong detective to help stop Juntao together.

Griffin later involves himself in the case, revealing more about the HKPF's past with Juntao's syndicate, and implores Han to pay the ransom to avoid further bloodshed. At the opening of a Chinese art exhibition at theLos Angeles Convention Center,overseen by Han and Griffin, the now $70 million ransom is delivered, and Carter, Lee, and Johnson enter disguised as guests. Carter orders the guests to evacuate for safety, angering the FBI, but Lee catches Griffin accepting a remote for the detonator from Sang. Lee and Johnson realize Griffin is Juntao when Carter recognizes him from the Chinatown surveillance tape. Griffin threatens to detonate a bomb vest attached to Soo Yung and demands that the ransom be paid in full, as compensation for the priceless Chinese artifacts which Lee recovered in his raid. Juntao's men start a shootout with the FBI while Carter sneaks out, locates Soo Yung in the van, and drives it into the building within range of Griffin, preventing him from setting off the vest.

Johnson gets the vest off Soo Yung, while Griffin heads to the roof with the bag of money. Lee takes the vest and pursues Griffin, while Carter shoots Sang dead in a gunfight and saves Russ. Lee has a brief altercation with Griffin that culminates in both dangling from the rafters. Griffin, holding on to the vest, falls to his death when its straps are torn, but when Lee falls, Carter catches him with a large flag. Han and Soo Yung are reunited and Hansends Carter and Lee on vacation to Hong Kong as a reward.Before Carter leaves, agents Russ and Whitney offer him a position in the FBI, which he mockingly refuses, proudly stating he is LAPD. Carter boards the plane with Lee, who annoyingly starts singingEdwin Starr's "War"off-key. A desperate Carter yells for astewardess,demanding that she give him another seat.

Cast

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  • Jackie ChanasChief InspectorLee, a top Hong Kong cop skilled in martial arts who comes to Los Angeles to help his friend find his kidnapped daughter.
  • Chris Tuckeras Detective James Carter, a fast-talking street-smart LAPD Detective originally assigned by the FBI to babysit Lee and keep him out of their investigation.
  • Tom Wilkinsonas Thomas Griffin/Juntao, a British diplomat and colleague of Han's who is secretly a top crime lord in Hong Kong.
  • Tzi Maas Consul Solon Han, Soo Yung's father and a Hong Kong diplomat who has just moved to Los Angeles.
  • Ken Leungas Sang, Juntao's second in command.
  • Elizabeth Peñaas Detective Tania Johnson, an aspiring bomb squad technician in the LAPD who helps Carter rescue Soo-Yung.
  • Mark RolstonasFBISpecial Agent Warren Russ
  • Rex Linnas FBI Agent Dan Whitney, Russ's partner
  • Chris Pennas Clive Cod, a small timearms dealerwho was arrested by Carter in a botched sting operation.
  • Philip Baker Hallas Captain Bill Diel, Carter's supervisor. He gives Carter the FBI assignment as punishment for a botched undercover sting operation.
  • Julia Hsu as Soo-Yung Han, Consul Han's daughter who is kidnapped by a criminal organization. She is also a martial arts student of Lee's.

Other cast members includeJohn Hawkesas Carter's informant "Stucky",Clifton Powellas Carter's cousin Luke,Barry Shabaka Henleyas prison guard Bobby,Roger FanandGeorge Cheungas Soo-Yung's bodyguards,Gene LeBellas a taxi driver, andFrances Fong(in her final film role) as a socialite.Jackie Chan Stunt TeammembersKen Lo,Nicky Li Chung-chi, Chan Man-ching andAndy Chengappear as Juntao's henchmen.

Production

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Rush Hourbegan as a spec script written in 1995 by screenwriterRoss LaManna.The screenplay was sold by LaManna'sWilliam Morrisagent Alan Gasmer toHollywood Pictures,a division ofthe Walt Disney Company,withArthur Sarkissianattached as producer. After attaching directorBrett Ratnerand developing the project for more than a year with producers including Sarkissian,Jonathan GlickmanandRoger Birnbaum,Disney Studios chiefJoe Rothput the project into turnaround, citing concerns about the $34 million budget, andJackie Chan's appeal to American audiences. Several studios were interested in acquiring the project.New Line Cinemawas confident in Ratner, having doneMoney Talkswith him, so they made a hard commitment to a budget and start date forRush Hour.[5]

Martin Lawrence,Wesley Snipes,Chris Rock,Eddie MurphyandDave Chappellewere considered for the role of Detective James Carter; Murphy turned down the role to doHoly Maninstead while Snipes turned down the role in favor ofBlade,which was also for New Line Cinema.[6][7][8]Chan wanted Lawrence for the role, but he turned it down due to a low offer.[9]

After the success ofRumble in the Bronx,Ratner wanted to put Chan in a buddy-cop movie, not as a co-star or sidekick but on equal footing with an American star. Ratner flew toSouth Africawhere Chan wasfilmingand pitched the film. A few days later Chan agreed to star and not long after flew to Los Angeles and metChris Tucker,the latter actor who ended up taking the role as Detective James Carter.[10]

Ratner credited Tucker with getting his first feature filmMoney Talksand thought Tucker and Chan would make a great team.[11]Filming began on November 30, 1997.[12]Shooting took place mainly in locations around theLos Angeles Metropolitan Area,including theLos Angeles Convention Center,Grauman's Chinese Theater,Greystone Mansion,Ennis House,andLong Beach Airport.The opening sequence was shot inHong Kong.

Reception

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Box office

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Rush Houropened at No. 1 in September 1998 at the North American box office, with a weekend gross of $33 million. It surpassedThe First Wives Clubto have the highest September opening weekend andTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesto have the biggest opening weekend for aNew Line Cinemafilm.[13]The film would hold latter record until the following June whenAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Metook it.[14]Rush Hourwould continue to hold the September record for three more years until it was surpassed bySweet Home Alabamain 2002.[15]Overall, it would top the box office for two weeks before getting displaced byAntz.[16]Rush Hourgrossed over $140 million in the US and $103 million in the rest of the world, for a total worldwide gross over $244 million.[3][17]

Critical response

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OnRotten Tomatoes,areview aggregator,Rush Hourholds an approval rating of 62% based on 77 reviews and an average score of 6.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "While it won't win any awards for originality, the combustible chemistry between its stars meansRush Hourhits just as hard on either side of the action-comedy divide. "[18]OnMetacritic,the film received aweighted average scoreof 61 out of 100 based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[19]Audiences polled byCinemaScoregave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.[20]

Roger Ebertpraised both Jackie Chan, for his entertaining action sequences without the use ofstunt doubles,and Chris Tucker, for his comical acts in the film, and how they formed an effective comedic duo.[21]Joe Leydon ofVarietycalled it "a frankly formulaic but raucously entertaining action comedy". Leydon is critical of the editing, saying that it "works against Chan by breaking up the flow of his frenzied physicality."[22]Charles Taylor of Salon is critical of Hollywood misusing Jackie Chan: "Chan is a one-of-a-kind performer: Bruce Lee crossed with Donald O'Connor in the" Make 'em Laugh "number fromSingin' in the Rain.Hollywood needs to stop treating him as if he were one of those fondue sets given as wedding gifts in the '70s: a foreign novelty shoved in a closet due to absolute cluelessness about what to do with it. "[23]

Michael O'Sullivan ofThe Washington Postcalls the film a "misbegotten marriage of sweet and sour" and says, "The problem is it can't make up its mind and, unlikeReese's Peanut Butter Cups,the sharply contrasting flavors of these ingredients only leave a bad taste in the customer's mouth. "O'Sullivan says Tucker is miscast, the script" perfunctory and sloppy ", and the direction" limp, lethargic ".[24]Owen Gleiberman ofEntertainment Weeklygave the film a grade "C−" and was critical of the buddy comedy, saying, "The two characters barely even have a relationship; they're a union of demographics—the" urban "market meets the slapstick-action market."[25]

Chan has expressed dissatisfaction with the film: "I didn’t like the movie. I still don’t like the movie." Chan continued: "I don’t like the way I speak English, and I don’t know what Chris Tucker is saying". Although he respects the box-office success ofRush Hour,Chan said he preferred the films he made in his native Hong Kong because they delivered more fight scenes: "If you see my Hong Kong movies, you know what happens: Bam bam bam, always Jackie Chan-style, me, 10 minutes of fighting."[26][27][28]

Cultural influence

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Rush Hourwas the catalyst for the creation of the review-aggregation websiteRotten Tomatoes.Senh Duong, the website's founder and a Jackie Chan fan, was inspired to create the website after collecting all the reviews of Chan'sHong Kong action filmsas they were being released in the United States. In anticipation ofRush Hour,Chan's first major Hollywood crossover, he coded the website in two weeks and the site went live shortly before the film's release.[29][30]

Sequels

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A sequel,Rush Hour 2,which was primarily set in Hong Kong, was released in 2001. A third film,Rush Hour 3,which was primarily set in Paris, was released on August 10, 2007.[31]Tucker earned $25 million for his role in the third film and Chan received the film's distribution rights in Asia.[27]

In 2007, before the release ofRush Hour 3,Ratner was optimistic about making a fourth film and potentially having it set in Moscow.[32]In 2017, Chan agreed to a potential script forRush Hour 4after years of turning down scripts.[33][34][35]

Music

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Main article:Rush Hour (soundtrack)

Edwin Starr's "War"was used as the ending theme for the film.

The film's soundtrack features the hit single "Can I Get A..."byJay-Z,Ja RuleandAmil,as well as tracks byFlesh-n-Bone,Wu-Tang Clan,Dru Hill,Charli BaltimoreandMontell Jordan.

The official soundtrack album was certified platinum on January 21, 1999.

Awards

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Home media

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VHS

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Release date Country Classification Publisher Format Language Subtitles Notes Reference
January 26, 1999 United States PG-13 New Line Home Video NTSC English None [37]
October 18, 1999 United Kingdom 12 Entertainment in Video PAL English None [38]

DVD

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Release date Country Classification Publisher Format Region Language Sound Subtitles Notes Reference
March 2, 1999 United States PG-13 New Line Home Video NTSC 1 English Unknown English Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (16:9) [39]
October 1, 1999 United Kingdom 12 Entertainment in Video PAL 2 English Unknown English Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1 (16:9) [40]
February 14, 2000 Australia M Roadshow Entertainment PAL 4 English Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Digital 2.0 		English Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (16:9)
Dolby Digital Trailer: Canyon

UMD

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Release date Country Classification Publisher Format Region Language Sound Subtitles Notes References
September 1, 2005 United Kingdom 12 Entertainment in Video PAL 2 English Unknown English [41]
January 3, 2006 United States PG-13 New Line Home Entertainment NTSC 1 English Unknown English [42]

Blu-ray

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Release date Country Classification Publisher Format Region Language Sound Subtitles Notes Reference
October 11, 2010 United Kingdom 15 Warner Home Video PAL Free English Unknown English Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (16:9) [43]
December 7, 2010 United States PG-13 New Line Home Entertainment NTSC Free English Unknown English Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (16:9) [44]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Rush Hour".American Film Institute.Archivedfrom the original on October 20, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 20,2016.
  2. ^"Rush Hour (1998)".British Film Institute.Archived fromthe originalon November 21, 2016.RetrievedNovember 20,2016.
  3. ^abc"Rush Hour".Box Office Mojo.Archivedfrom the original on June 19, 2006.RetrievedJune 25,2006.
  4. ^"Rush Hour (1998)".The Numbers.Archivedfrom the original on November 9, 2013.RetrievedApril 28,2020.
  5. ^Eller, Claudia (October 6, 1998)."Studios Were in Passing Lane for 'Rush Hour'".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on March 7, 2016.RetrievedApril 28,2020.
  6. ^"Martin Lawrence & Wesley Snipes almost played Chris Tucker's role in Rush Hour | EPISODE 18 - YouTube".YouTube.January 28, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on July 13, 2021.RetrievedJune 13,2021.
  7. ^"The Lost Roles of Dave Chappelle".April 5, 2012.Archivedfrom the original on June 13, 2021.RetrievedJune 13,2021.
  8. ^"The Lost Roles of Eddie Murphy".April 7, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on June 13, 2021.RetrievedJune 13,2021.
  9. ^"Martin Lawrence Says He Turned Down Offer to Costar with Jackie Chan in 'Rush Hour': 'Not Enough Money'".
  10. ^Alex Pappademas (October 3, 2017)."Jackie Chan's Plan to Keep Kicking Forever".GQ.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2019.RetrievedAugust 20,2019.
  11. ^Clement, Nick (January 19, 2017)."Crowd-Pleasing Hits Pepper Walk of Fame Honoree Brett Ratner's Resume".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2019.RetrievedAugust 20,2019.
  12. ^Cox, Dan (November 5, 1997)."Wilkinson merges into 'Rush Hour'".Variety.RetrievedJuly 15,2023.
  13. ^Vitucci, Clarie (September 22, 1998)."It's 'Rush Hour' at weekend box office".The Associated Press.Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.p. 79.Archivedfrom the original on May 14, 2023.RetrievedMay 14,2023– viaNewspapers.
  14. ^"Feelin' Pretty Groovy: 'Austin Powers,' the Spy Who's No. 1".Los Angeles Times.June 14, 1999.
  15. ^"Moviegoers Make It a 'Sweet' September".Los Angeles Times.October 1, 2002.Archivedfrom the original on November 5, 2022.RetrievedNovember 5,2022.
  16. ^"Animated" Antz' crawls to top in box office debut ".
  17. ^Wolk, Josh (September 28, 1998)."Losers Take All".Entertainment Weekly.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2011.RetrievedOctober 24,2010.
  18. ^"Rush Hour(1998) ".Rotten Tomatoes.Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2022.RetrievedJune 30,2024.
  19. ^"Rush Hour(1998) ".Metacritic.Archivedfrom the original on March 12, 2019.RetrievedJune 30,2024.
  20. ^"Cinemascore".Archived fromthe originalon December 20, 2018.
  21. ^Ebert, Roger(September 18, 1998)."Rush Hour".rogerebert.Archivedfrom the original on June 13, 2013.RetrievedJune 25,2006.
  22. ^Leydon, Joe (September 21, 1998)."Review: 'Rush Hour'".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2015.RetrievedJune 22,2015.
  23. ^Charles Taylor (September 18, 1998)."Hong Kong Hollywood".Salon.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2019.RetrievedAugust 20,2019.
  24. ^Michael O'Sullivan (September 18, 1998)."'Rush Hour': Slow Going ".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on September 10, 2019.RetrievedAugust 20,2019.
  25. ^Owen Glieberman(September 25, 1998)."Rush Hour".Entertainment Weekly.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2019.RetrievedAugust 20,2019.
  26. ^Hugh Hart (September 8, 2002)."His Career Is No Stunt".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on October 28, 2018.RetrievedApril 28,2020.
  27. ^abAssociated Press(September 30, 2007)."FOXNews – Jackie Chan Admits He Is Not a Fan of 'Rush Hour' Films – Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News".Fox News. Archived fromthe originalon November 9, 2007.
  28. ^Clarence Tsui (December 13, 2012)."Jackie Chan Calls for Curbs on Political Freedom in Hong Kong".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2019.RetrievedAugust 20,2019.I dislike Rush Hour the most, but ironically it sold really well
  29. ^"20 Years Later, Rush Hour Is Still a Buddy-Cop Gem".Rotten Tomatoes.September 18, 2018.Archivedfrom the original on April 13, 2019.RetrievedDecember 14,2018.
  30. ^Semley, John (2018).Hater: On the Virtues of Utter Disagreeability.Penguin Books.pp.26–27.ISBN978-0-7352-3617-2.Archivedfrom the original on August 3, 2020.RetrievedDecember 14,2018.
  31. ^"Chan Says Tucker Holding Up Rush Hour 3".The Associated Press.July 10, 2005.Archivedfrom the original on April 26, 2006.RetrievedJune 25,2006.
  32. ^""Rush Hour 4" is Set in Moscow ".WorstPreviews.August 2, 2007.Archivedfrom the original on March 21, 2008.RetrievedApril 5,2008.
  33. ^Shirley Li (October 6, 2017)."Jackie Chan teases that 'Rush Hour 4' is close to being a reality".EW.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2019.RetrievedAugust 20,2019.
  34. ^Chris Tilly (August 13, 2014)."Jackie Chan Downplays Talk of Rush Hour 4 and Drunken Master 3".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2019.RetrievedAugust 20,2019.
  35. ^"Jackie Chan Says Rush Hour 4 Is Happening, but There's a Catch".E! Online.October 5, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2019.RetrievedAugust 20,2019.
  36. ^"1999 MTV Movie Awards".MTV.Archived fromthe originalon June 30, 2015.RetrievedOctober 24,2010.
  37. ^Rush Hour [VHS] (1998).Amazon.ISBN0-7806-2371-1.
  38. ^"Rush Hour [VHS] [1998]".Amazon.co.uk.October 15, 1999.Archivedfrom the original on August 13, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 8,2012.
  39. ^Rush Hour (New Line Platinum Series) (1998).amazon.ISBN0-7806-2514-5.
  40. ^"Rush Hour [DVD] [1998]".amazon.co.uk.October 1999.Archivedfrom the original on March 21, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 8,2012.
  41. ^"Rush Hour [UMD Mini for PSP]".amazon.co.uk.September 2005.Archivedfrom the original on January 7, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 31,2012.
  42. ^"Rush Hour [UMD for PSP] (1998)".Amazon.Archivedfrom the original on January 8, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 31,2012.
  43. ^"Rush Hour [Blu-ray] [1998] [Region Free]".amazon.co.uk.October 11, 2010.Archivedfrom the original on March 21, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 8,2012.
  44. ^"Rush Hour [Blu-ray] (1998)".Amazon.December 7, 2010.Archivedfrom the original on January 6, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 8,2012.
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