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Kevin Kwong

Crime Story. Starring Jackie Chan, Kent Cheng Chuk-see, Pan Lingling, Christine Ng Wing-mei and Law Ka-ying. Directed by Kirk Wong Chi-keung. A Category II picture on the Golden Harvest Circuit.

 THE problem with locally-made action movies is that if you have seen one, you really have seen them all. The latest summer release starring kung fu idol Jackie Chan is no exception.

  Like other tough-cop movies, notably hits such as Police Story and its sequels, Crime Story offers plenty of violence, bravery, hair-raising stunts and dismal dialogue.

  But what makes this Golden Harvest production slightly different from the rest is the real-life element. Crime Story is based on the kidnapping of a wealthy Hongkong businessman who was held for a US$60 million ransom in the early 80s.

  Director Kirk Wong spent two years researching the story which fits in nicely with the latest local trend of films based on fact. Others in the same vein include The Untold Story, Raped By an Angel and Legal Innocent.

  Crime Story's plot is simple. Veteran police officer (Kent Cheng) of the Serious Crimes Squad (the Chinese title of the movie) is fed up with his job.

  He decides to strike it rich by kidnapping a local businessman (Law Ka-ying) before running away with his girlfriend (Christine Ng).

  Chan plays an honourable but stressed-out policeman assigned to protect Law. Having failed in his duty, Chan begins an investigation which Cheng tries to thwart. Law Ka-ying takes a break from his usual Cantonese opera roles to make his first screen appearance as the stingy businessman.

  Cheng, who started off his acting career in comedy roles, gives a convincing performance as the bad cop. But Ng's supporting role as a bar girl is restricted to a brief sex scene which takes place in a lift and lasts from the top to the ground floor of acommercial centre.

  Also, watch out for composer James Wong's cameo role. If you blink, you'll miss him.

  There are plenty of injured cops and gas explosions (cheaper versions of Backdraft) . And Chan pulls his usual stunts, without messing his hairdo, to keep the audience awake. However, none of this can stem the yawns.

  At its best, Crime Story provides visual excitement but these gripping moments are few and far between. At its worst, it is simply another male-dominated action movie with a tedious and predictable storyline.

  But will Hongkong's action-starved public come back for more? With Jackie Chan topping the cast, the answer is likely to be ''yes''.



Yawns for lost action hero