A typical Jackie Chan film that offers up tons of breathtaking action and not much else, this is action film-making well above average. Now I've heard critics complain about Jackie Chan films and this film in particular having no plot or complex storyline. Instead they possess childish, over-simplified stories which just involve different characters getting chased, caught, escaping, and getting chased again, usually involving a character or an item that the bad guys are after (here it's a videotape). I don't really understand this level of criticism. If you're looking for plot and story go see a film like FARGO or A SIMPLE PLAN instead. Action films I hate are those which contain an abundance of plot and dialogue and a minimum of action. Reverse that quota and you have utterly entertaining cinema, action, and excitement from start to finish with barely time to breathe. MR. NICE GUY is no exception, a return to the old days for Jackie where the action was plentiful and the stunts come thick and fast.

Sure, there are a few dodgy aspects to the film but none of them are particularly surprising. The acting is generally terrible, especially from the western actresses brought into the movie to tell it to an overseas audience. Chan speaks English here which adds to the authenticity and his accent is pretty easy to understand. The best role goes to Richard Norton, an old pro who handles the part of his slimy gangster villain with ease and who has some great lines and mannerisms. Check out the bizarre fight sequence between Chan and Norton, which has Chan restrained with elastic to give Norton a helping hand. It makes little sense but is pretty amusing.

As for the action, it mainly takes the form of chases which is fine by me. There are fights in a shopping mall (recalling POLICE STORY) and a stand out sequence involving a chase on a horse-drawn carriage which is very well shot (check out the superior stunt in which Chan falls off, nearly going under the wheels of a bus and only saving himself with his hands). The kung fu is nice and fast and always exciting, with Chan making great use of props for danger and action. Another highlight is a battle in a workshop with bits of wood and circular saws everywhere. Things culminate in a terrific finale involving a truly massive bulldozer demolishing a building. Scenes where Jackie lies on his back, pushing himself backwards with his feet to avoid getting crushed under the wheel of the truck, or where he hangs onto the wheel to get into the cab, are classic and showcase an athletic and dare-defying Chan at his finest. Sammo Hung handles the direction and makes a good job of it, only spoiling things slightly with some silly slow-motion inserts. Check out his cameo as an irate cyclist!

In Melbourne, the Chinese Chef Jackie (Jackie Chan) has a successful show on television. The drug lord Giancarlo (Richard Norton) and his gang are dealing cocaine with The Demons gang, but they fight against each other. During the shooting, the snoopy reporter Diana (Gabrielle Fitzpatrick) and her partner are accidentally exposed and they flee with a VHS tape with the footage of the negotiation. On the street, she stumbles with Jackie and he helps her fighting against the gangsters. When they are escaping in his car, her tape accidentally mixes with other videotapes that Jackie has in a box on the backseat of his car. Jackie goes to his apartment and meets his girlfriend Miki (Miki Lee) while his nephews "borrow" the tape to watch. Meanwhile Giancarlo's gangsters are looking for the tape and abduct Miki. Jackie's friend Romeo (Vince Poletto),who is a police detective, chases the gangsters with other policemen while Jackie teams up with Diana and his friend Lakisha (Karen McLymont) to release Miki from Giancarlo.

"Yat goh ho yan", a.k.a. "Mr. Nice Guy", is a highly entertaining film with Jackie Chan in the lead role. The screenplay is the perfect combination of action and humor, with magnificent choreography. The final sequence with the huge mining vehicle is hilarious. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Mr. Nice Guy - Bom de Briga" ("Mr. Nice Guy – Good in Fight")

When you see bits of this you expect it to be quite fun, and then when you read the review by critics you can agree with what their saying. Based in Melbourne, Australia, this story sees Jackie Chan as Jackie (LOL),a popular TV cook with great food talents, and knowledge of martial arts. His life is turned upside down when TV Journalist Diana (Gabrielle Fitzpatrick) has taped evidence of a drug lord, Giancarlo 'The Saint' Lucchetti (Richard Norton) doing his "business", and on her way out is spotted, and has to run. She runs into Jackie in the street and they getaway after a little struggle, but it gets worse they accidentally mix up her tape or the crime, and his tape of his cookery show. The bad guys are now after Jackie, who they think has the tape, but what he and they don't realise is that one of Jackie's nephews nicked it. There is also a point where Jackie's girlfriend Miki (Miki Lee, LOL again) is kidnapped and threatened for ransom, so this is when we know, "No More Mr. Nice Guy". Also starring Karen McLymont as Lakeisha, Vince Poletto as Romeo, Barry Otto as Baggio and the director Sammo Hung Kam-Bo as Cyclist. The action, stunt and chase sequences as with most of Chan's films are very fun and quite exciting, including a stunt involving a power saw, but I agree with critics two star (out of five) opinion, because the acting is rubbish, and the story could have used a bit of work too, but it is certainly a film for Chan and stunt fans. Jackie Chan was number 41 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars. Okay!