Streaming on Netflix
Jackie Chan is one of those titans of cinema whose sheer awesomeness successfully spawned its own subgenre. Starting out as a stunt double & performer in Bruce Lee movies, Jackie Chan made a name for himself in the Hong Kong martial arts action world. Building his own stunt team and choreographing some of the most memorable martial arts fight scenes that would become the catalyst for most films of the genre to follow. Not to mention performing all of his own fights and death-defying stunts, including but not limited to falling nearly a hundred feet through a set of awnings and onto the ground, jumping from the top of a parking lot to the adjacent building, and jumping from a moving bus through a pane of glass. Oh, and that one time he semi-jetskied across some water with a broken leg in a cast that the costume department covered up with a dummy rubber shoe. All of which have cost Jackie Chan several broken bones and more visits to the hospital than anyone might care to count.
Tom Cruise wishes he was as accomplished in stunt performance as Jackie Chan!
However, like any form of entertainment, it can lose its initial shock value and become standard fair. That's not to say anything new from any given accomplished performer is expected to be boring or uninteresting, just that it could have been more spectacular. After all, there's not much nuance to cover once you've defied death multiple times. It becomes routine, held together by the underlying charm of the performers.
Which is an apt description of today's subject, Hidden Strike. It's not mind-blowing entertainment, but it doesn't try to be. It's a decent, albeit cookie-cutter, piece of work held together by two charismatic performers with genuine comedic talent & solid chemistry. In other words, it's OK for a lazy afternoon but not much else.
The story follows Special Forces commander Lou Feng (Jackie Chan) leading a mission to evacuate civilians from an oil refinery in Baghdad. The fastest route to the green zone is via a treacherous road nicknamed The Highway of Death. On their way to their destination, they hit an unexpected sandstorm, which becomes the perfect cover for a team of elite mercenaries led by Chris Van Horne (John Cena) to highjack the convoy and kidnap the former director of the refinery. Little does Chris know that he's been hired by a local warlord to steal the oil for himself. When Chris discovers his actions' folly, he switches sides and joins forces with Lou Feng to retrieve the director and stop the warlord. The only question is can they accomplish their new mission before they kill each other?
There's only a little demand for critical thought in this high-octane (albeit occasionally silly) bit of action fast food. It knows what it is and isn't embarrassed or ashamed, which is always appreciated. It's the right kind of "turn-off-your-brain" movie where it's meant to be enjoyed momentarily and without any profound, lasting impact. This can be dull for some audiences, but it's perfect for the right mood and mindset.
The solid chemistry between Jackie Chan and John Cena makes it worth looking at. Both are capable performers with a commitment to their craft and solid comedic timing, rendering them a decent pair for this kind of action film.
Even though the film doesn't demand too much from the audience, that doesn't mean we shouldn't ask for a bit more nuance when possible, which leads me to my main issue with the film and why it's not ranked above any of Jackie Chan's better works; the failed attempt at extra family drama. Early in the film, there is the revelation of a subplot involving Lou Feng's relationship with his estranged daughter, who happens to be one of the civilians in the evacuation. Their feud originates from her mother's death and Lou's absence. While this is an acceptable way to include some human drama in an action film, the script fails to utilize it properly (at least in my opinion), rendering what should have been a relatable characterization into unnecessarily forced drama. Admittedly, this is a minor nitpick considering the kind of movie this is, but that's still no excuse for what amounts to lazy writing.
After all, just because you don't have to do a good job doesn't mean you shouldn't.
Hidden Strike is the kind of action schlock you typically play as background noise while doing chores. You don't have to give it your full attention, but you are not punished for doing so, either. If you need a fine mindless distraction for a lazy afternoon, give it a look. Otherwise, check out some of Jackie Chan's earlier films if you haven't already. Many of them are, quite literally, unbelievable.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
Yes I agree this is the type of movie that you can just listen to while you do chores. The drama between Jackie Chan and his daughter was unnecessary to the story and in fact boring as well as sloppily written. But I did like the chemistry between Cena and Chan. Not only is it because they are kind of an “odd couple” on screen but their timing is impeccable. They made the movie if nothing else.
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