Opened: May 26, 2000

Directed by: Tom Dey

Starring: Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Lucy Liu, Roger Yuan, Walton Goggins, Xander Berkeley, Jason Connery & Brandon Merrill

Thanks to impressive chemistry and comedy from leads Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, Shanghai Noon takes a silly story and makes it into a highly enjoyable film.

When Princess Pei-Pei (Lucy Liu) runs away to the United States, Chon Wang (Chan) volunteers to be part of the crew to collect her. Chon runs into outlaw Roy O’Bannon (Wilson) who first plays against Chan but ultimately helps him in his quest.

Taking a fantastic script with many nods to the western genre and adding in kung fu and martial arts, creates a juxtaposition that shouldn’t work but makes a unique piece that does.

Chan’s fight sequences are amazingly done and keep the action flowing, while Wilson matches the energy in his own clumsy way. You can tell how much fun the two are having throughout.

Final say: Fun mixture of genres. ★★★★☆