Talented star. Opaque plot. Murky dialog/translation. I will not add this film in my Jacky Chan collection. It's embarrassing.
The plot is impossibly murky. The dialog is heavy and clumsy. Characters come and go, and sometimes return, but there is no reason for any of it. If you see this film you will have no idea who is who, or what is going on. (Jacky, please have an English-speaking person write your English dialog!)
I suspect Jacky himself is to blame. Jacky is such a huge star, it must be difficult to reign in his enthusiasm or give him any kind of plot guidance.
This looks like an old Hong Kong film. I'm a big fan, so that's not an insult, but without the momentary laptop/internet scene, this easily could have been a 1980s Jacky film repackaged for the Western market. I can't see how that is a benefit.
The English translation may be at fault. I have many, many Chinese films in my collection, and this film was far below average. I'd prefer subtitles. Better yet, shoot the major dialog twice, in English and Cantonese. Jacky has done this with other films successfully. Besides, Jacky speaks English very well.
The locations were SUPER! I loved the lighting in places. Some good camera angles. The credits were heavy-handed but nice. A couple interesting stunts, but often shot poorly.
The American DVD was very disappointing. No extra material, at all! A terrible, old-looking photo. Again, everything points to a repackaged old film. Why make a new film like that?
I have 26 Jacky Chan films. This film would certainly rank as one of his least polished, exotic locations notwithstanding. It's no wonder it was never released in US theaters. Don't get me wrong, I hate Bret Ratner, the director of Rush Hour, but his stories made sense. By comparison, "Accidental Spy" is a home movie.
I cringe to see such a great star in such a shoddy film.
