Eddie Yang is a Hong Kong cop that is about to find himself involved in events that are more amazing and mystical than anything he could have ever dreamed of. It all starts when him and Interpol go after Snakehead and international criminal who has been hiding out in Hong Kong. Snakehead has entered a Buddhist temple to recover a boy that as legend tells is born every 1000 years and has the ability to unite the two halves of a powerful mystical medallion. It is his plan to have the boy give him all the powers the medallion can give but his plan is interrupted by Yang who bust in on him before he can recover the medallion. Now Yang has to wonder why such an evil criminal would be after such a young child and he finds himself as the child’s protector as Snakehead has no intentions of letting the boy go before he gets what he wants. This results in Yang following him all the way to Ireland and suffering a near fatal accident while investigating the case involving the mysterious medallion. Eddie soon discovers that with the powerful medallion in his possession, he gains incredible speed, strength and skills – taking his martial arts abilities to a whole new level. Enlisting the help of British Interpol agent Nicole James his old girlfriend, Eddie is determined to learn the secret of the medallion and face down the evil Snakehead who wants to use its awesome powers for his own nefarious plans.

This movie proves that Jackie Chan has finally gone past his prime and that he must do other things besides spectacular martial arts sequences to make a movie. Lucky for him and also lucky for us as audiences he is still a very funny actor and has the ability to fall back on his comedy to carry a movie. A few years back it would have been sacrilegious to even suggest Chan not doing all his stunts and know it seems his movies are becoming more and more CGI and stunt doubled with each film he does. This is not too bad in movies like Shanghai Knights but was an atrocity in the Tuxedo and was really ill fitting in the medallion. The problem was that the scenes were not seamless and it was too easy to tell when Chan was not doing the stunts. The action has to be the worst of any movie he has ever done but does that mean the movie was bad no I do not believe so. I have to admit in the beginning I was truly disliking the film as I have seen most of Chan’s movies and the action sequences were so uninspiring but then I realized the movie did not need the action they just needed Chan. Chan was funny and is so likeable on the screen but you cannot help but be entertained by him. Quirky is what I would call the movie and funny. This is not a bad way to go and since they did it so well by even mixing in actors like Lee Evans that you would never expect to be doing an action flick it makes for a fun filled ride. If you were expecting the Jackie Chan of the Legend of a Drunken Master days I am sorry to say that actor will probably never return but if you were expecting the comedian of Shanghai Noon I am glad to say that actor is here to say. Some martial arts, a lot more comedy and all in all and entertaining movie.
3.5 stars out of 5