Robin B Hood
Directed by: Benny ChanStarring: Jackie Chan, Louis Koo, Michael Hui, Yuen Biao, Charlene Choi Synopsis: Thong (Chan), Octopus (Koo) and Landlord (Hui) are a trio of very successful burglars. While robbing a hospital, Thong manages to save the life of a new-born baby who’d been abducted by his father in a desperate bid to win back his ex. Later, when each of the robbers fall on hard times, they accept a job to kidnap the same baby. However, Landlord is the only one in contact with their paymaster, so when he ends up in jail after crashing his car, Thong and Octopus are literally left holding the baby... Review:A movie containing Jackie Chan and a baby. The concept alone had kept me away from this film since it was released in Hong Kong in 2006. More fool me, as it turns out. Robin B Hood (aka Rob B Hood) is a real return to form for Jackie, containing some of his best comedy, action and fight scenes since the mid-90’s. (NB – Check out the trailer – it looks like Cine Asia/Dragon Dynasty want to play down the cutesy baby stuff too!)Yes, there are loads of cute’n’schmaltzy scenes between Thong, Octopus and the baby, as the clueless duo try to figure out how exactly to look after a rugrat. An amusing scene sees them load up on supplies at Toys R Us, only to be berated by the shop assistant because hardly any of the stuff they are buying is appropriate for “their” baby. Lucky they meet up with a young nurse who had witnesses Thong’s heroic save of the baby at the start of the film, and attend some ante-natal seminars at the hospital! 
The comedy isn’t just relegated to the baby scenes though. Louis Koo’s Octopus is a serial womaniser who spends all his ill-gotten money on trying to maintain a playboy’s lifestyle. Watching him encourage his latest girlfriend to spend his money on expensive handbags, only to cry his eyes out at the cash-till as he digs out all his money is pretty funny. There’s also a great scene of high farce as loads of people converge on Thong and Octopus’s flat to grab the baby, while trying to keep Thong’s friend Inspector Steve Mok (an on-form Yuen Biao) in the dark.Action-wise there are a number of standout stunts, the highlight being a high-speed chase as the baby’s pram gets hitched to the back of a security van. Jackie’s fight scenes are some of the best he’s done probably since “Mr Nice Guy”. Jackie’s character, Thong, has a tougher edge than a lot of his usual screen personas and isn’t averse to giving a beat-down, especially when some thugs start threatening his family. 
Jackie really gets to stretch his acting ability – probably more so than in Shinjuku Incident. Thong is a gambling addict – and not a very good one, either. Not only does he have loan-sharks on his back, but he also has to face up to how his addiction is affecting his family, especially his father. He also has good chemistry with Louis Koo, making their partnership and friendship seem very real. Looking after baby gives both Thong and Octopus a new outlook on life and when it comes time to hand the baby over to their paymaster, they are very reluctant to do so. However when they try to steal him back, they learn that the baby is in great peril, leading to an excruciating climax. The HK penchant for high melodrama comes into play here, but it is tempered with a twisted yet warm denouement. Verdict Yes, it’s cute and schmaltzy to the max, but Robin B Hood is also great fun and fans of Jackie will be rewarded with some of his best fights and stunts for many a year. 8 out of 10 (MikeOutWest) New! CommentsHave your say about this! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
