Competing with Jackie Chan: The Chase (29)
Ride On was released in Japan in May 2024. It was released in China in April 2023, and although it was released in major countries around the world almost simultaneously after that, there was no Japanese release for a long time. I was worried because the previous work, Hidden Strike, was only released online, so it is a relief that it was released in theaters, even if it was delayed by over a year.
That said, it was a small-scale release that cannot be compared to the nationwide roadshows of the past. Is this also a sign of the times?
It is a story about a washed-up legendary stuntman who fights to have one last hurrah with his beloved horse. It is a behind-the-scenes look at a film studio, which is probably a first for a Jackie Chan movie.
Chitu, the beloved horse that becomes the partner of Master Luo, played by Jackie, gives a quite good performance, but I think this is also the first time in a Jackie Chan movie that a non-human animal has been involved as a lead character (Kung Fu Panda aside).
As such, it can be called a quite unique work even in the long history of Jackie Chan movies.
As the poster above says, it is "Jackie Chan's 50th Anniversary Action Masterpiece", but this is likely hyperbole.
Which work from 50 years ago in 1974 was used as the benchmark (it seems to be Fist to Fist, but is that really okay?), and in the first place, this "Ride On" itself is a 2023 work.
Regardless of whether it is an anniversary work or not, the other tagline, "This is the culmination of a life", hits the mark.
The protagonist, Master Luo, is set as a legendary stuntman who remains in the history of Hong Kong cinema, which overlaps with Jackie Chan himself, who started his film career as a stuntman. The scenes used as Master Luo's past highlights are a number of action scenes from successive Jackie Chan movies.
Action scenes from "Project A," "Police Story," and others are inserted as the glorious history of Master Luo. They even use the scene of the major accident from Armour of God (the one where Jackie almost died), so I take my hat off to that dedication to the fans.
However, there is an important line in the movie that says, "Stuntmen risk their lives, but their faces are never shown," yet Jackie, or rather Master Luo's face, is shown the whole time.
Regardless of that, when watching those famous scenes, the tagline "This is the culmination of a life" makes sense. It feels like watching the culmination of Jackie Chan movies, or like watching the final episode of a very, very long TV drama called Jackie Action (of course, "Ride On" is not the final episode).
Not only are there those past highlights, but plenty of current action is also included. Jackie and the famous horse Chitu, who perform stunts one after another for various film shoots, let us enjoy action that puts their bodies on the line, so it does not betray the expectations of Jackie fans. This level of dedication to the audience is truly Jackie.
As such, I would like to call it a fine Jackie Chan movie that leaves almost nothing to complain about, but in reality, I cannot praise it that highly.
Because of the story of the movie, it cannot be helped, but the action in this movie is all stunts for film shooting. It goes without saying, but because of that, Jackie's action this time feels "soft".
Yes, even though it is within the story of the movie, the action in previous Jackie Chan movies was performed in serious scenes. The protagonist (usually Jackie) was always pushing his limits while under the pressure of life-threatening danger.
The genres of Jackie Chan movies were mainly kung fu action in the beginning, and later crime suspense or adventure. Those battles were life-or-death fights with kung fu masters, spectacular hand-to-hand combat with gangsters, fierce chases with armed police or soldiers, and sometimes challenges against the bared fangs of Mother Nature.
There was always a sense of tension (in the story) that "death" awaited if the action failed.
Come to think of it, there are almost no Jackie Chan movies that are pure comedies.
However, most of the action in this film is action for the sake of filming a movie. While there is, of course, physical danger and the possibility that a mistake could lead to death, there is no enemy trying to take Jackie's life as he performs the action.
Because of that, I can't shake the feeling that it's a bit 'tepid' while watching it.
Jackie himself must have realized this long ago. Perhaps that is why a fight with debt collectors chasing Master Luo is woven into the story. The kung fu-based action is well worth watching and of high quality, but it is not essential to the story. If anything, it's an extra bonus.
Since this movie is neither a crime suspense nor an adventure, that is to be expected. You can think of it as being in the same vein as Jackie's films like The Karate KidMiracles of the Namiya General Store.
But unlike those films, this movie is a drama with action as its theme. Naturally, the audience expects action when they watch it. At least, I did.
Those expectations are, as expected, betrayed. No matter how spectacular the action is, a feeling of something being missing remains.
And it's not just the sense of something missing due to the genre.
The very theme of the movie, 'aging,' seeps out from behind the screen. And that is none other than the 'aging' of Jackie himself.
Is it because the setting within the movie is 'the challenge of an aging stuntman'? No, it wasn't the action in the movie that made me feel Jackie's 'aging.' If it were just that, I could rest easy knowing that the 'aging' was created for the film.
The end credits of the movie now include the customary blooper reel. Usually, I would finish by thinking, 'Oh, Jackie is working hard this time too,' but perhaps because of the movie's theme, the sight of Jackie struggling hits home in a strange way. Ah, Jackie has gotten old, too..
Come to think of it, Jackie was born on April 7, 1954. That means he turned 70 this spring. Let's think of any 70-year-old acquaintances around us. Well, that makes sense, Jackie.
In reality, Jackie Chan hasn't aged that much yet. Following 'Ride On,' there is 'A Legend,' which was screened at the '2024 Tokyo-China Film Week' held this October (released in China in July 2024). It is a work by director Stanley Tong, who has Jackie's deep trust. Let's look forward to it.