Railroad Tigers

On their third time working together, Ding Sheng and Jackie Chan have created their worst film yet. First was good (Little Big Soldier), second wasn't bad (Police Story: Lockdown), now their third, Railroad Tigers, is just not my cup of tea. I was on board for the first half, but it wore off. What could have been a dramatic action film about Japanese oppression of the Chinese and an uprising via railroad logistics is actually an action-comedy. While the story doesn't deviate, it doesn't work when so much comedy is thrown at it. It is better than most of Chan's recent work, though, so that was a blessing (CZ12 and Dragon Blade are unbearably bad). The production and costume designs are nice, and I appreciated watching a film about the Second World War - I just wish it was serious. The first half of the movie seems intent on introducing the numerous characters via illustrated freeze frames, which while interesting at first gets annoying when you realise they are still doing it after 45 minutes. Speaking of time, it is a long film at 120 minutes, especially in that it's not a serious look back at this part of history. There are more serious moments in the film, and lots of people die (though no blood is shed), but it's partnered with an overriding sense of comic playfulness. It is not particularly funny, but it's also not a straight-up comedy. It is an odd one. The Japanese are made to look like fools, with the Chinese looking like clever rebels. I liked the handful of instances where animation is used (once in the opening credits a couple of more times later on) to hide the lack of a budget - but it cannot save the film. The finale goes on forever, and it's mildly interesting, but at that point I wasn't invested. There is a surprise cameo by Andy Lau at the end, which kind of lands with a thud as you know it's unexpectedly expected.

C