Jackie Chan's Project A is a fairly typical Chan film from the 80s. It has both his typical broad humor and incredible stunt work. The only thing that separates this from other Chan films of the era is its setting. Unlike most of his films, Project A is set in the early 1900s, during a time of British rule. So how does it compare to his other films?
Chan plays Dragon, a sailor in the colonial fleet. Boats are being attacked by pirates left and right, and the navy is the only hope. However, the governor cuts funding for Project A, the anti-pirate force that Chan is a member of. Chan is forced to become a cop for a large portion of the film, investigating cases of organized crime and corruption.
Of course, the story is never important in these sorts of movies. Much more crucial is the stunt work. Both Chan and co-star Sammo Hung are legends in the martial arts world, and for good reason. Chan's choreography is never realistic, but it's always a blast to watch. By nature a comedian, Chan tries to throw in things to illicit a laugh. A great example of this occurs during a bike chase that's simply incredible.
Most of the comedy is broad, which is good because sometimes humor can be lost in translation. The simple comedy routines help pass the time between fights, which is a good thing. Unfortunately, there's a lot of time between fights, and until the climax I was wishing for a little more combat. The comedy is fun for a while, but it's simply not enough to hold the film together.
I suppose I would recommend this film. Though there are slow parts, when the film works it's a lot of fun. There are better martial arts films, even better Chan films, but you'll still be entertained by this film.
3.5 out of 5 stars
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