At one time, Renny Harlin was viewed as Hollywood’s next great action-movie-directing hope. He impressed with “Die Hard 2” and “Cliffhanger,” but the double whammy of flops “Cutthroat Island” and “The Long Kiss Goodnight” started a descent which in recent years has seen him directing TV, little-seen efforts like “Five Days Of War” and “Devil’s Pass,” and curiosities like “The Legend Of Hercules” starring Kellan Lutz. And his latest, “Skiptrace,” is firmly in that latter category.
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The action comedy pairs up Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville for what looks like a very tepid take on “Midnight Run” and “Rush Hour,” following a Hong Kong cop who’s teamed with American criminal to bring down a Chinese gang. All sorts of delightful miscues follow. Here’s the official synopsis:
Fists and feet are flying in this explosive action-comedy starring Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville. For years, by-the-book Hong Kong detective Benny Chan has tried to avenge his partner’s murder at the hands of a drug lord. When Benny learns that freewheeling American gambler Connor Watts (Knoxville) has the evidence he needs, he teams with Connor to get justice.
“Skiptrace” hits DirecTV July 28th and plays in select theaters and On Demand on September 2nd.
