Rush Hour
dir. Brett Ratner · 1998
Feature
Cultural Dislocation
Mood
Comedic / Adventurous
Look
vibrant urban landscapes with dynamic action sequences
Structure
linear with episodic comedic set pieces
Plot
Cultures clash and tempers flares as the two cops named Detective Inspector Lee a Hong Kong Detective and Detective James Carter FBI, a big-mouthed work-alone Los Angeles cop who are from different worlds discovers one thing in common: they can't stand each other. With time running out, they must join forces to catch the criminals and save the eleven-year-old Chinese girl of the Chinese consul named Soo Yung.
Why watch
"Rush Hour" delivers a riotous blend of action and comedy as two culturally disparate detectives navigate their differences to save a kidnapped girl. With its sharp humor and thrilling chase sequences, this film is a celebration of unlikely friendships forged in the heat of chaos.
Cultural context
East-West cultural clashesAmerican perceptions of Asian culturesbuddy cop genre evolutionglobalization and cultural exchange