2000, PG-13, 110 minutes

The problem with Jackie Chan's films of the past is that they primarily focused on Chan's action capabilities and rarely utilized his incredible amount of charisma. Shanghai Noon is definitely a big step in the right direction for Chan, providing an enjoyable mix of slapstick-ish fighting and plenty of laughs.

The setup for Shanghai Noon is your typical rescue mission, except for the fact that it involves China. After being deceived, Princess Pei Pei (Lucy Liu) flees her home country with the help of a backstabbing assistant, who is actually part of a ransom scheme. A Chinese slave named Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) sets out to the United States in order to bring her home, and runs into some trouble once he gets there. He gets mixed up with a thieving American cowboy named Roy (Owen Wilson), and while on the run from the law they decide to team up and save the princess together.

While this film could've been a bit funnier, Jackie Chan's specialized form of action makes it worth while, even during the slow parts. With other action films I find myself constantly yawning at the site of actors diving and shooting guns in slow motion, but with Chan a boring fight sequence can quickly become a thoroughly enjoyable experience. He uses flimsy trees, bullhorns, and an assortment of other objects to help him, all in a smooth and graceful style that can only be compared to the great Buster Keaton.

Tom Dey's direction is a bit bland, but he should also be recognized for his self-control. As one would expect from a lightweight comedy, Dey succeeds at shying away from ritzy camera angles that might steal the attention from the actors -- a feat that many directors can't seem to handle. Screenwriters Miles Millar and Alfred Gough do a good job of crafting a story that fits the comedic likes of both Chan and Owen Wilson, who end up fitting perfectly together.

As mentioned before, one thing I really like about Shanghai Noon (besides the clever title) is that it utilizes more than Chan's graceful fighting skills. Chan is just one of those charismatic guys that you can't help but like, and the role is quite sufficient for him. Owen Wilson also has quite a bit of charisma, not to mention that his comedic timing and line delivery are both excellent. Some of the comedy in this film probably looked lame on paper, but Wilson manages to bring much of it to life. Lucy Liu didn't have a huge part as this is mostly a buddy film, but she still wasn't very convincing as Princess Pei Pei.

Fans of both comedy and action will surely be entertained by Shanghai Noon, as will people looking for a lightweight film that the whole family can enjoy. It isn't quite as funny as I had hoped for, but the performances from the cast and the fast-paced story definitely make it worth while.