REVIEW: Ride On (2023)
Jackie Chan tugs at heartstrings to remind his fans just how brilliant He still is!
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Do you remember your first Jackie Chan movie? I do. I was 12 and there was a movie on SBS-TV here in Australia. A young looking guy was fighting an old master. For 20 minutes. Non-stop.
The energy was electric. And I fell in love with Jackie Chan.
But lately Jackie’s movies haven’t been at the same level of those classics. But believe it or now, this movie sets to right a few of those wrongs.
PLOT
A washed-up stuntman and his horse live in China’s movie city where they struggle to make ends meet by selling photos of the horse in various costumes to tourists.
One day he is served with legal documents to reclaim his horse as payment of a debt owed by the company the horse’s mother belonged to
Hoping for a resolution, he turns to his estranged daughter and her lawyer boyfriend for help, at the same time also resurrecting his career as a stuntman after successfully pulling off a dangerous stunt on a film set
He manages to mend his relationship with his daughter, but a series of challenges threatens this fragile development until he can come to the realisation about what’s most important to him.
I won’t write too much, as my thoughts are more eloquently presented in the video review about, but I do want to touch on several points that are worth discussing:
This movie is worth watching. It’s not the 70’s-80s Chan, it’s a more mature and reflective version that acknowledges the classics while explaining to the audience what’s happened.
The horse is a metaphor for his son, the daughter a metaphor for his real life daughter.
This is a family drama that will bring a tear to your eye, while also featuring some classic Chan action scenes.
A lot of great cameos from Wu Jing, Andy On and Xing Yu!
Liu Haocun is showing her diversity as an actress. Free from the shackles of Yimou, she’s found her feet in the savage Chinese movie industry.
Bring a box of tissues! You’ll need them.
What are my overall thoughts?
After a slowish start, the movie really picks up pace after the first scene of Chan meeting his daughter. From then on, you’ll be glued to the screen- drama or action scenes, it doesn’t matter!
Well worth a watch.
If you’ve seen it, what did you think?
Genre Drama Action
Director Larry Yang
Starring Jackie Chan, Liu Haocun, Wu Jing
Original Title 龙马精神
Country of Origin China
Release Date April 7 2023