City Hunter (1993) / Action-Comedy

MPAA Rated: PG-13 for violence and some sexual content
Running Time: 98 min.

Cast: Jackie Chan, Mike Abbott, Gary Daniels, Kumiko Goto, Eric Kot
Director: Wong Jing
Screenplay: Wong Jing
Review published January 19, 1998

City Hunter is an action film based on the popular Japanese comic book of the same name.  The plotline centers around a womanizing private investigator named Ryu Saeba (Chan, Police Story 2), who is hired to find the missing daughter of a wealthy publishing tycoon. During his pursuit of the young woman, Ryu gets caught up in a plot by American terrorists to take over a cruise ship and rob the wealthy passengers onboard. Ryu, with a little help from his friends, takes it upon himself to save the innocent victims.

City Hunter features some truly funny and tongue-in-cheek moments that more than make up for the derivative and hokey plot.  Jackie Chan seems to be having quite a bit of fun going WAYYY over the top as Saeba. Nice action, hit-and-miss comedy (but when it hits it packs a wallop), and gorgeous women maintain a high interest level, with at least a handful of scenes well-worth the price of admission. Don't expect much, just sit back and enjoy the hyperkinetic Chan do everything he can to entertain.  

Qwipster's rating:

©1998 Vince Leo