#Jackie chan 80 days movie#

Still, traversing the sea is time-consuming if only Fogg could unlock the secrets of flight, which he's long been working on. Monique turns out to be a great asset to the duo: Somehow (it's never quite explained), her dazzling twinkle makes locomotives run faster, which greatly reduces Fogg's traveling time on land. Along the way - a route that hops from London to Paris, and then to Turkey, India, China, San Francisco and New York - they're joined by an adventurous and comely Parisian artist named Monique (the appealing if slightly flat Cécile de France, whose real name is even more fitting than her character's name for this light, cartoony material). Even so, he heads out with his recently hired valet, Passepartout (Chan), who, unbeknownst to Fogg, is hiding out from the British authorities on a robbery charge. The two make a bet that if Fogg can travel around the globe in 80 days, Lord Kelvin will cede his title to him.įogg accepts the challenge with relish, only to realize suddenly how impossible it is. In this loose reworking of the Jules Verne novel (which, like the original, is set in the late 19th century), Coogan plays Phileas Fogg, a hapless but elegant London inventor who longs to be taken seriously by the Royal Academy of Science: Its corrupt and greedy head, Lord Kelvin (Jim Broadbent), refuses to admit him. This version may be more disappointing than Chan's other American movies precisely because it seemed to hold more promise than the others. He flails, valiantly, in 'Around the World' - the picture's muddy timing and overly broad gags do him no favors.Īn earlier version of 'Around the World' was a big hit for producer Mike Todd in the '50s.

#Jackie chan 80 days movie#

comedian Steve Coogan (of '24 Hour Party People' and 'Coffee and Cigarettes'), who has already given American movie audiences generous glimpses of the wry, understated comic pleasures he has to offer. Why is it so hard to build a suitable vehicle for a worldwide superstar with as much charisma as Chan's got? 'Around the World in 80 Days,' directed by Frank Coraci ('The Waterboy,' 'The Wedding Singer'), is just the latest in this string of disappointments, and this time, the failure is particularly stinging: 'Around the World' also stars U.K. Overall it's worth watching and is entertaining enough but don't expect it to blow your socks off.There are few tasks as thankless as charting the mysterious inability of American mainstream movies to fully tap the charm and physical grace of Jackie Chan. The best supporting part for me was Ewan Bremner as the accident prone police sergeant. The rest of the cast are all excellent with a huge list of supporting parts and cameo's including an excellent Jim Broadbent, a great part for Ah-nuld Schwarzenegger, and it was great to see him on screen with Chan, also Rob Schneider, Luke and Owen Wilson, John Cleese, Kathy Bates, and particularly exciting to me as a Hong Kong action fan, Sammo Hung. She is attractive, in a cutesy sort of way but she has a charm and a likeability that works very well and the three leads seem to have a good chemistry. Cecile De France is very good as Coogan's love interest. It seems too cartoony at times especially the accent. He doesn't seem as entirely natural here though and the character he creates doesn't always work. He is the dog's hairy things as Alan Partridge.

Steve Coogan is someone I am a big fan of. Nothing compared to Chan's Hong Kong stuff but far superior to much of his Hollywood action.

He's a comical genius and as usual performs his own stunts. It is clearly evident that the film had a lot spent on it, although some of the CGI effects are not of the standard expected from a $110 million film. The action in the film and the looks could probably have been more gritty but in any case it looks very colourful and the various settings all catch the eye. It's almost a cartoonish realism with the set design and costumes, clearly evident with Philleas Fogs gadget laden home. It is all very much orientated towards satisfying children.

It's forgettable, could have been much better, but all in all not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon. It's not great but it has charm and energy and is the sort of mindless, competent movie making that is hard not to enjoy watching. There was the good fun of Shanghai Knights and around that was the poor duo of Tuxedo and The Medallion. Jackie Chan has had a mixed time of late in Hollywood.