Teddy Chen is one of those directors that (for me) just never really 'nails it', delivering a range of films that are entertaining, yet far from perfect. Before this, he had directed action films, Downtown Torpedoes and The Purple Storm - both of which had their moments, but just never wowed me. The Accidental Spy joins those films, opening with a brutal massacre in Turkey before introducing Jackie's character (as a gym-equipment sales assistant) in a light-hearted, comedic fashion...
I've often championed Hong Kong films for their unique blend of genres, and love how they flip from one style to another, but with this, it just doesn't work!
After a fun action packed opening, with Jackie thwarting a bank robbery which leads to a fun fight in an elevator then onto a fantastic stunt on top of a huge crane - the film almost instantly goes dark. The great Eric Tsang makes a connection with Jackie (who is now hailed a hero) that directs him to Korea and the possibility of finding his real father. Once in Korea however, the film starts looking more like a thriller with a cold blue filter, very dark shots, and some serious drama.
The fight scene in the hospital and (random) car chase that follow seem slightly odd when the typical Jackie-style humour creeps in. In hindsight, going into production Golden Harvest should have really decided that The Accidental Spy be either more like Jackie's fantastic dark thriller, The Foreigner - or a Stanley Tong directed globe-trotting adventure, like many of the films they have made together...
It isn't long before the cat-and-mouse chase of finding more clues in his adventure takes Jackie to Turkey, allowing for more exotic locations and inventive action scenes, losing the bleak look of the Korean winter setting. As the mystery and the clues continue, we thankfully get treated to quite a few more fight scenes as a Turkish group of terrorists set out to take Jackie hostage and find 'the thing' - that thing that every bad guy wants, but nobody knows what they are asking for except 'that thing'!
That thing of course, is a new form of Anthrax which Jackie just happens to suddenly have in his possession.
As mentioned, there is definitely no shortage of fight action once in Turkey. From the fun skirmish with the taxi drivers to the fight in the Turkish bathhouse and marketplace, where a naked Jackie must use everything in his sight to keep his bits out of view - all while throwing a punch and kick whenever he can. This fight is definitely once of the films more 'Jackie Chan' moments, and one of its few highlights...
But once again, this is something I find annoys me with The Accidental Spy! Right after this funny and inventive scene, we get thrust back into Teddy's dark world of terrorism and espionage as Jackie then gets taken hostage by the same Turkish fighters and is soon fighting is way out in a bloodied gun fight and intense getaway.
Its like a big budgeted Godfrey Ho movie at times!
And I don't mean that its terrible - I just mean, it can get messy. Even the fights at times seem lazy (although not all disappointing). The last 'slappy-hands' fight with Brad Allen in the back of a convertible is hardly anything as wonderful as their fights in Gorgeous, but this leads to the films big finale - which is another highlight of The Accidental Spy. Having crashed the convertible into the back of an oil tanker, Jackie must rescue the family from the now burning truck - all while keeping it moving so the flames don't race up the vehicle causing an explosion...
Its a pretty big stunt and well executed that (finally) brings a bit of excitement to the film, at the same time, trading in the one thing we all look forward to at the end of a Jackie Chan movie - the final fight scene! And I thought it was only Stanley Tong that did that..! Instead, we get to see Jackie in one of his finest stunts - swinging from some construction netting after leaping from the burning truck on a bridge before hitting the dirt. Impressive yes, but definitely not enough to make The Accidental Spy a memorable, Jackie Chan classic.
Just to note though - avoid the US cut and dubbed version if you can, and keep watching (the HK version) after the fun out-takes during the credits (with a theme song by Jackie Chan and Jacky Cheung) for a post-credit scene that shows Jackie continuing his role as a spy that should've led to a sequel, but didn't...
Overall: It definitely has its moments, but The Accidental Spy is far from perfect!
I've often championed Hong Kong films for their unique blend of genres, and love how they flip from one style to another, but with this, it just doesn't work!
After a fun action packed opening, with Jackie thwarting a bank robbery which leads to a fun fight in an elevator then onto a fantastic stunt on top of a huge crane - the film almost instantly goes dark. The great Eric Tsang makes a connection with Jackie (who is now hailed a hero) that directs him to Korea and the possibility of finding his real father. Once in Korea however, the film starts looking more like a thriller with a cold blue filter, very dark shots, and some serious drama.
The fight scene in the hospital and (random) car chase that follow seem slightly odd when the typical Jackie-style humour creeps in. In hindsight, going into production Golden Harvest should have really decided that The Accidental Spy be either more like Jackie's fantastic dark thriller, The Foreigner - or a Stanley Tong directed globe-trotting adventure, like many of the films they have made together...
It isn't long before the cat-and-mouse chase of finding more clues in his adventure takes Jackie to Turkey, allowing for more exotic locations and inventive action scenes, losing the bleak look of the Korean winter setting. As the mystery and the clues continue, we thankfully get treated to quite a few more fight scenes as a Turkish group of terrorists set out to take Jackie hostage and find 'the thing' - that thing that every bad guy wants, but nobody knows what they are asking for except 'that thing'!
That thing of course, is a new form of Anthrax which Jackie just happens to suddenly have in his possession.
As mentioned, there is definitely no shortage of fight action once in Turkey. From the fun skirmish with the taxi drivers to the fight in the Turkish bathhouse and marketplace, where a naked Jackie must use everything in his sight to keep his bits out of view - all while throwing a punch and kick whenever he can. This fight is definitely once of the films more 'Jackie Chan' moments, and one of its few highlights...
But once again, this is something I find annoys me with The Accidental Spy! Right after this funny and inventive scene, we get thrust back into Teddy's dark world of terrorism and espionage as Jackie then gets taken hostage by the same Turkish fighters and is soon fighting is way out in a bloodied gun fight and intense getaway.
Its like a big budgeted Godfrey Ho movie at times!
And I don't mean that its terrible - I just mean, it can get messy. Even the fights at times seem lazy (although not all disappointing). The last 'slappy-hands' fight with Brad Allen in the back of a convertible is hardly anything as wonderful as their fights in Gorgeous, but this leads to the films big finale - which is another highlight of The Accidental Spy. Having crashed the convertible into the back of an oil tanker, Jackie must rescue the family from the now burning truck - all while keeping it moving so the flames don't race up the vehicle causing an explosion...
Its a pretty big stunt and well executed that (finally) brings a bit of excitement to the film, at the same time, trading in the one thing we all look forward to at the end of a Jackie Chan movie - the final fight scene! And I thought it was only Stanley Tong that did that..! Instead, we get to see Jackie in one of his finest stunts - swinging from some construction netting after leaping from the burning truck on a bridge before hitting the dirt. Impressive yes, but definitely not enough to make The Accidental Spy a memorable, Jackie Chan classic.
Just to note though - avoid the US cut and dubbed version if you can, and keep watching (the HK version) after the fun out-takes during the credits (with a theme song by Jackie Chan and Jacky Cheung) for a post-credit scene that shows Jackie continuing his role as a spy that should've led to a sequel, but didn't...
Overall: It definitely has its moments, but The Accidental Spy is far from perfect!