Read the Sun Sentinel's award-winning journalism

Kingdom is lacking in riches

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Those salivating at the thought of Jet Li and Jackie Chan going mano-a-mano are likely to be among the more disappointed customers of The Forbidden Kingdom. While the top-billed duo does indeed occupy plenty of screen time, this is basically the latest version of that post-Star Wars fantasy concept in which only a middle-class white teen boy can save the universe from, y'know, Evil. On its own terms, it's a handsome albeit unexceptional juvenile adventure shot on some magnificent Chinese locations.

The script, by John Fusco (Young Guns, Hidalgo), is loosely based on the classic Chinese epic Journey to the West, incorporating nods to various other mythological and kung-fu movie conventions.

Apart from framing segments, animator-turned-live-action-director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King, Stuart Little) shot exterior and studio sequences entirely in China. Yet the cliche-ridden opening heralds a formulaic view of the exotic East through Western pop-culture-trained eyes - specifically those of Jason (Michael Angarano), a Boston teen enamored with kung-fu movies.

He buys bootleg DVDs at the Chinatown pawnshop of Old Hop (a prosthetically aged Chan), and happens to spy an ornate golden staff in a back room. Later, school bullies led by Lupo (Morgan Benoit) force Jason back to the pawnshop for a robbery attempt that leaves Old Hop shot. While grasping the staff, Jason is magically whisked away, waking up inexplicably in what appears to be an ancient Chinese farming village that's promptly ransacked by soldiers of the tyrannical Jade Warlord (Collin Chou).

Jason is captured, then rescued by Lu Yan (Chan again), an inebriated passerby whose drunk-fu nonetheless foils a passel of armed men. The two repair to a teahouse, where Lu Yan explains the Yank lad must be "the seeker" destined to fulfill a prophecy by returning the golden staff to its owner, the Monkey King (Li), trapped in stone centuries ago by his likewise immortal foe, the Jade Warlord.

Attacked again, the duo escape and are joined by Golden Sparrow (Liu Yifei), an orphan determined to avenge her parents' murder by the Jade Army. Then white-clad Silent Monk (Li) turns up and endures a lengthy temple fight with Lu Yan before it's discovered he's on their side.

Now Jason has two masters - poker-faced monk and wine-scarfing poet - to pummel his hitherto nonexistent fighting skills into shape.

The climax takes place at the Jade Palace, amid a riot of CGI effects and Woo-Ping Yuen's fight choreography. Still, there's that Boston bully to be dealt with, in a groan-inducing epilogue.

This material, particularly its generic dialogue, doesn't give the actors much chance to shine past sheer physical exertion and iconic presences. While Chan and Li bring their accumulated charisma to the table, the movie won't be remembered as more than a paycheck highlight for either of them.


The Forbidden Kingdom ** 1/2 (OUT OF 4)

An American teen goes on a quest to free a noble, ancient Chinese warrior.

With Jet Li, Jackie Chan. Directed by Rob Minkoff. In English and Mandarin with subtitles.

Running time: 113 minutes

Rated PG-13: Violence

Copyright © 2019, Sun Sentinel