Have you ever wanted to watch another installment of the Taken franchise but, instead of Liam Neeson quietly talking into a phone, you wanted to watch Jackie Chan quietly talking into a phone?
Well, you’re in luck.
The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan, is a moderately fun action movie, with a relatively compelling story and some fun action pieces set in England and Ireland.
The movie kicks off quickly, with Chan’s character (Quan) suffering from the loss of his daughter after a terrorist bombing. Quan quickly seeks revenge, identifying Brosnan’s Liam Hennessy from the politician’s on-screen appearances condemning the terrorist attacks. Quan and Liam’s screen time together is minimal but the movie really shines when the two icons are onscreen together.
While his motivations are relatively (and almost humorously) clear, Quan’s backstory is rushed through the movie, drowning it in forced tragedy (we learn his wife died in childbirth and his other two daughters were literally kidnapped by pirates.) His proclivity for making dirty bombs is also quickly explained away by showing the audience flashing records of his time in the United States special forces.
If you take Jackie Chan’s character out, the movie’s plot would still occur, with the majority of his scenes occurring apart from the rest of the ensemble cast (including Dermot Crowley, who played General Madine in Return of the Jedi.) However, the movie is still enjoyable, a simple plot buoyed by some exciting plot twists and few great Jackie Chan set pieces.
(Also, a fun drinking game if you are seeing the movie this weekend: take a drink every time you see Pierce Brosnan’s character holding a glass of whisky. I lost count by the end of the movie but it was nearly every time he appears onscreen.)
If you’re not planning on watching Blade Runner 2049 for the second time this weekend, support 007 and Detective Inspector Lee by going to see The Foreigner.
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