In the 1990s,
Jackie Chan
traveled to the United States to record
Rush Hour
, cult film starring
Chris Tucker
. O
Martial arts star
revealed a hilarious story about the challenges he faced during filming in Hollywood.
Between 1998 and 2007, the trilogy won over action fans and admirers of Chan’s iconic acrobatics. Perhaps it’s not among the
best action movies
of all time, but this timeless classic delivered unforgettable moments, thanks to the chemistry between comedian Chris Tucker and the martial arts master.
One of your biggest hits… and also a nightmare
The partnership with Tucker, known for talking as fast as a machine gun, was as chaotic as it was fun. During an appearance on
The Kelly Clarkson Show
next to colleagues of
The Karate Kid: Legends
, the last movie he filmed, Jackie shared a surprising anecdote about the filming of the first movie. When the host and singer asked him about his English learning, the actor replied with a mischievous smile:
During the entire movie, I couldn’t understand a single word Chris Tucker was saying!
He explained that his colleague loved to improvise: “In every take, his dialogue was different. In every scene, he would change the lines!” Jackie, who was already struggling with the language, had to turn to the dialect coach: “What did he say? He’s speaking too fast!” he begged desperately.
The situation on the set reflected the movie’s own plot. In the story, American detective Carter (Chris Tucker) welcomes Chinese detective Lee (Jackie Chan) in Los Angeles and believes he doesn’t understand English. “Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth?”, Carter yells, leaving Lee without a response—a scene that ironically mirrored reality.
In his autobiography,
Never Grow Up
Jackie admitted having trouble learning the language and revealed an unusual method: country music. “The songs are slow, so they helped me catch the rhythm,” he joked.
The Return of the Karate Kid
At 71 years old, the action movie icon
It’s back in theaters
in Karate Kid: Legends. This time, he reprises the role of Mr. Han (whom he portrayed in
The Karate Kid
, 2010, alongside
Jaden Smith
) and one with her
Ralph Macchio
, star of the original franchise and of
Cobra Kai
, to train a new talent: Li Fong (
Ben Wang
).
After a personal tragedy, the young kung fu prodigy is separated from his family in Beijing and forced to move to New York with his mother. While trying to overcome grief and adapt to his new school, he ends up getting into trouble—even without seeking out fights.
When a friend asks for his help, Li agrees to participate in a karate tournament but soon realizes that natural talent isn’t enough. His mentor, Mr. Han, calls upon Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) for assistance, and together they develop a fighting style that combines kung fu and karate. It is this technique that Li will use in the decisive confrontation.
The Rush Hour trilogy is available on Max for anyone who wants to revisit the funniest (and most chaotic) action movie duo!
Read the article at radarsantri.com
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