Jackie Chan's Police Story 2

Chan is the heart and brain of the Police Story films, and the lengths he goes to in order to impress and entertain extend beyond what we see on screen.

This second Ka-Kui adventure rests comfortably in-between the others, overflowing with Chan's patented stuntwork and comic high jinks, and as such, it's a fine introduction to the Jackie Chan phenomenon.

... more technically accomplished than the first film and even more mature, and he ups the ante with bigger set pieces, including a series of big explosions.

A poorly balanced, overlong picture that is neither outrageously funny in its levity nor incredibly awe-inspiring in its action sequences.

Evidently, the extreme focus on action takes a toll to the narrative, although I found this aspect beneficial to a point, since this tactic does not allow much space for the illogicalities that formed a large part of the first's story.

The film's paralytic self-seriousness fails to mesh with its outlandish characters and scenarios.

Police Story 2 saves a lot of the action for the third act, and that third act is a doozy

the dexterity of not just Chan's physicality, but his balancing of comedy and suspense and violence and intrigue is what makes his films so consistently enjoyable

If the comedy routines occasionally fall flat, there's nothing second-rate about the fights, falls and other stunt-dependent routines that are the bread and butter of this series.

Arresting fight scenes well orchestrated. Whatever area the fights take place in, everything in the vicinity will be used to fight with; whether it's a shoe, two small steps, or a sock - Chan will find a way to use them creatively during the fight.