Skiptrace (film)

Last updated
Skiptrace
Skiptrace American Poster.jpg
American film poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 絕地逃亡
Simplified Chinese 绝地逃亡
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Jué Dì Táo Wáng
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping Zyut6 Dei6 Tou4 Mong4
Directed by Renny Harlin
Screenplay byJay Longino
BenDavid Grabinski
Story byJay Longino
Produced by Jackie Chan
Charlie Coker
Damien Saccani
Wu Hongliang
Esmond Ren
David Gerson
Starring
CinematographyChan Chi-ying
Edited byDerek Hui
Judd H. Maslansky
David Moritz
Music by Chan Kwong-wing
Production
companies
Dasym Entertainment
Talent International Film Cultural Company
Cider Mill Pictures
InterTitle Films
JC Group International
Talent International Media
Distributed byBeijing Talent International Film (China) [1]
Saban Films (U.S.)
Lionsgate (International)
Release dates
  • July 21, 2016 (2016-07-21)(China)
  • September 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)(USA)
[2]
Running time
108 minutes
CountriesChina
Hong Kong
United States [3]
LanguagesEnglish
Mandarin
Budget$30–60 million [4] [5]
Box office$136.6 million [6]

Skiptrace is a 2016 Hong Kong-Chinese-American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Renny Harlin, produced, starring and based on a story by Jackie Chan. [3] [7] The film co-stars Johnny Knoxville and Fan Bingbing. [3] [8] It was released in China on July 21, 2016, and in the United States on September 2, 2016. [9] [10]

Contents

Plot

In Hong Kong 2007, detective Bennie Chan has been tracking notorious crime boss "Matador" – whom he believes to be businessman Victor Wong. While tracking him, Chan's partner Yung is captured. Yung sacrifices himself and gives his watch to Chan to remember him by. Nine years later, when Yung's daughter Samantha gets into trouble with Wong's crime syndicate, Chan must track down an American conman, Connor Watts, who gambles his way through Chinese casinos after being banned in America and who witnessed the murder of a woman named Esther Yee in Wong's Macau casino. However, before Chan can find him, Connor is kidnapped by the men of a Russian kingpin to answer for getting his daughter pregnant.

Chan fights the Russians and rescues Connor. On their way to Hong Kong, however, Connor steals Chan's passport and burns it, forcing the pair to travel on foot to Mongolia, where they enjoy themselves with the Mongolians.

Connor subsequently reveals that before she died Esther gave a phone to him which belongs to the "Matador". While crossing into China, Connor make a fuss leading to both of them being arrested by the police for various offenses as Connor would rather be imprisoned than being killed by "Matador" and his gang. They are broken out of police custody by a Siberian hitwoman and her gang, who wish to capture Connor and bring him back to the Russian kingpin but they manage to escape her pursuit.

Connor sees Wong on the news and recognizes him as Esther's murderer. Chan learns that Samantha is already taken by Wong's right-hand man Willie and his men, who threaten to kill her if Chan refuses to bring the phone back to Hong Kong. When they argue over their personal differences, they go in separate ways, giving him the phone that will implicate Wong as the "Matador".

While attempting to prove Wong as the "Matador", Wong's thumbprint does not match the phone's security thumbprint and Chan is arrested by the Hong Kong police instead. Connor, masquerading as lawyer, helps to break out Chan. With the assistance of Leslie, Chan's co-worker, they bypass the phone's security and finds a clue to the "Matador" identity.

Leslie informs Chan that their police captain, Tang, is now working with Wong. Chan and Connor sneak to the shipyard, Matador's criminal organization hideout. They witness Wong talking to "Matador" and Wong is then killed for his failure to bring back the phone. Attempting to rescue Samantha, the two are eventually held captive by the criminal gang. "Matador" is revealed to be the supposedly deceased Yung. Yung taunts Chan for choosing honor while the former chose power. Yung then reunites with his daughter Samantha at the room where he explains about his fake death to focus on his criminal career. Yung leaves Samantha locked up in a room.

After a boat hits the cargo ship, the ship starts to slowly flood the compartments. The Siberian hitwoman arrives with help to rescue Chan and Connor with police arriving eventually also. Chan and Yung work together to save Samantha from drowning inside the cargo ship with Yung committing suicide by drowning. The authorities then arrest Tang and Willie.

Connor goes back to Russia, fulfilling his honor, to witness the birth of his child with the kingpin's daughter. After the baby is born, it was evident that the baby is not his and Connor leaves the hospital. Later, Connor and Samantha surprise Chan back at his farm, providing him with alpacas to help fulfill his earlier-confessed lifelong dream of running an alpaca farm. Connor leaves with Samantha after attempting to knock out Chan via a technique taught by Chan himself. Chan is successfully knocked out after attempting to stay awake until Connor is out of sight.

Cast

Production

The film was first announced in May 2013 as Sino-American co-production to be directed by Sam Fell and starring Jackie Chan and Fan Bingbing [13] with Chan playing a Hong Kong detective who allies with a gambling conman to find a criminal mastermind. [7] Exclusive Media is the agent for the international sales rights. [14] On 22 October 2013, it was announced that actor Seann William Scott has been added to the cast as the previously uncast gambler. [15] On September 3, 2014, Johnny Knoxville replaced Scott for the co-starring role. [8]

Production was due to begin on January 13, 2014, with filming set in Hong Kong and China. [16] Filming then began on September 3, 2014, in China, [8] and was due to end on December 15, 2014. [17]

On December 17, 2014, cinematographer Chan Kwok-hung drowned while on a shoot for the film. [18]

Reception

The film was number-one on its opening in China, grossing US$60 million. [19] The film has grossed a total of CN¥870 million at the Chinese box office. [1]

Critical response

As of June 2020, the film holds an approval rating of 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 32 with an average rating of 4.53/10. [20] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 50% based on reviews from 9 critics. [21]

Dennis Harvey of Variety magazine wrote: "Skiptrace remains lively, diverting, and essentially good-natured even when it's cheerfully dumb, exploiting its diverse locations for every last drop of local color." [22] Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times gave a negative review and wrote: "Skiptrace settles for a warmed-over plot, tedious fight sequences and humor that's heavy on crotch jokes and pratfalls." [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Chan</span> Hong Kong actor and martial artist (born 1954)

Fang Shilong, known professionally as Jackie Chan, is a Hong Kong actor, director, writer, producer, martial artist, and stuntman. On screen, he is known for his slapstick - acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts, which he typically performs himself. Before entering the film industry, he was one of the Seven Little Fortunes from the China Drama Academy at the Peking Opera School, where he studied acrobatics, martial arts, and acting. In a film career spanning more than sixty years, he has appeared in over 150 domestic and international movies. Chan is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential martial artists in the history of cinema.

<i>Drunken Master</i> 1978 Hong Kong martial arts film

Drunken Master, also known as Drunken Master The Beginning, is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts comedy film directed by Yuen Woo-ping and produced and co-written by Ng See-yuen. The film features much of the same crew as Yuen's Snake in the Eagle's Shadow released earlier the same year, including lead actors Jackie Chan, Yuen Siu-tien, and Hwang Jang-lee; although narratively unrelated, Drunken Master bears similarities to its predecessor in its story and style.

<i>Rush Hour</i> (1998 film) 1998 American action comedy film by Brett Ratner

Rush Hour is a 1998 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Brett Ratner and written by Jim Kouf and Ross LaManna from a story by LaManna. It stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker as mismatched police officers who are assigned to rescue a Chinese diplomat's abducted daughter. Tom Wilkinson, Chris Penn and Elizabeth Peña play supporting roles.

<i>Project A</i> (film) 1983 film by Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung

Project A is a 1983 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film starring and directed by Jackie Chan, who also wrote the screenplay with Edward Tang, who produced with Leonard Ho and Raymond Chow. The film co-stars Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. Project A was released theatrically in Hong Kong on December 22, 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renny Harlin</span> Finnish filmmaker (born 1959)

Renny Harlin is a Finnish film director, producer, and screenwriter who has worked in Hollywood, Europe, and China. His best-known films include A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Deep Blue Sea.

<i>Supercop</i> 1992 Hong Kong action film

Police Story 3: Supercop, released as Supercop in the United States and also known as Jackie Chan's Supercop, is a 1992 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Stanley Tong. It is the third installment in the Police Story series, with Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung and Bill Tung reprising their roles from the first two films, and Michelle Yeoh introduced as a new co-lead alongside Chan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Wong (actor)</span> American actor

Michael Fitzgerald Wonga.k.a.Wong Man-tak is a Chinese-American actor based in Hong Kong.

<i>Thunderbolt</i> (1995 film) Hong Kong action film

Thunderbolt is a 1995 Hong Kong action sports film, starring Jackie Chan and directed by Gordon Chan. The action directors were Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, and the action scenes were performed by the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. In early North American releases, the film was known as Dead Heat.

<i>Drunken Master II</i> 1994 Hong Kong film

Drunken Master II is a 1994 Hong Kong action-comedy kung fu film directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Jackie Chan as Chinese martial arts master and a Cantonese folk hero, Wong Fei-hung. It was Chan's first traditional style martial arts film since Fearless Hyena Part II (1983). The film was released in North America as The Legend of Drunken Master in 2000.

The Jackie Chan Stunt Team, also known as Jackie Chan's Stuntmen Association, is a group of stuntmen and martial artists who work alongside Jackie Chan. Founded in the 1970s, it originally included Hong Kong action stuntmen and martial artists, before expanding to include international talent over the next several decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fan Bingbing</span> Chinese actress, model, television producer, and singer

Fan Bingbing is a Chinese actress.

<i>Project A Part II</i> 1987 Hong Kong action film by Jackie Chan

Project A Part II is a 1987 Hong Kong action film starring and directed by Jackie Chan. It co-stars Maggie Cheung, Bill Tung, and Rosamund Kwan. It is the sequel to the 1983 film Project A. Chan plays Sergeant Dragon Ma once again, but his co-stars from the previous film, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, are both absent. The film was released theatrically in Hong Kong on 19 August 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Chan filmography</span>

Jackie Chan began his film career as an extra child actor in the 1962 film Big and Little Wong Tin Bar. Ten years later, he was a stuntman opposite Bruce Lee in 1972's Fist of Fury and 1973's Enter the Dragon. He then had starring roles in several kung fu films, such as 1973's Little Tiger of Canton and 1976's New Fist of Fury. His first major breakthrough was the 1978 kung fu action comedy film Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, which was shot while he was loaned to Seasonal Film Corporation under a two-picture deal. He then enjoyed huge success with similar kung fu action comedy films such as 1978's Drunken Master and 1980's The Young Master. Jackie Chan began experimenting with elaborate stunt action sequences in The Young Master and especially Dragon Lord (1982).

<i>Hong Kong Bronx</i> 2008 Hong Kong film

Hong Kong Bronx is a 2008 Hong Kong action film directed by Billy Chung, and starring Jordan Chan and Annie Man. The film was produced by Wong Jing, whose father, Wong Tin-Lam, appears in a supporting role.

<i>Police Story</i> (film series) Hong Kong action film series

Police Story is a Hong Kong action film series created by and starring Jackie Chan. It comprises seven films, variously directed by Jackie Chan, Stanley Tong, Benny Chan, and Ding Sheng, and produced by Raymond Chow, Leonard Ho, Jackie Chan, Barbie Tung, Willie Chan, Solon So and Yang Du. The first film Police Story was released on 14 December 1985. The film's success led to three sequels, one spin-off, and two reboots.

<i>The Tricky Master</i> 1999 Hong Kong film

The Tricky Master (千王之王2000) is a 1999 Hong Kong crime comedy film directed by Wong Jing.

<i>Port of Call</i> (2015 film) 2015 Hong Kong film

Port of Call is a 2015 Hong Kong crime thriller film written, edited and directed by Philip Yung and starring Aaron Kwok as a veteran police detective who solving a murder mystery with unusual methods to prove his belief of virtue in human nature. The film is based on a real murder case where a dismembered corpse of a murdered 16-year-old female prostitute was found in Hong Kong in 2008. Port of Call was the closing film at the 39th Hong Kong International Film Festival on 6 April 2015. The film was theatrically released in Hong Kong on 3 December 2015. Port of Call won seven awards at the 35th Hong Kong Film Awards including acting awards Best Actor for Kwok, Best Actress for Jessie Li, Best Supporting Actress for Elaine Jin, Best Supporting Actor and Best New Performer, both for Michael Ning, as well as Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography, while also nominated for six other awards. The film also won many other awards and nominations at the Golden Horse Awards, Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards and Asian Film Awards. It was selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.

Chan Kwok-Hung was a Hong Kong cinematographer. His credits, as director of photography or camera operator, included the 2000 action comedy Tokyo Raiders and the 2007 action drama Invisible Target. He also received best cinematography nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards for Fly Me to Polaris in 2000 and Summer Holiday in 2001.

<i>Bodies at Rest</i> 2019 Chinese-Hong Kong film

Bodies at Rest is a 2019 action thriller film directed by Renny Harlin, starring Nick Cheung, Richie Jen, and Yang Zi. It is Harlin's third Chinese-language film, following Skiptrace (2016) and Legend of the Ancient Sword (2018). The film had its world premiere as the opening film of the 43rd Hong Kong International Film Festival on March 18, 2019. It was released in China on August 16, 2019. The movie is considered a moderate commercial success.

References

  1. 1 2 绝地逃亡（2016）. cbooo.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  2. ↑ Alex, Billington (July 18, 2016). "Jackie Chan & Johnny Knoxville in Action Comedy 'Skiptrace' Trailer". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Frater, Patrick (May 7, 2013). "Chan and Fan jump for Skiptrace". Film Business Asia . Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ Feldman, Dana (September 1, 2016). "Renny Harlin Pulls Off Blockbuster Comeback In China With Jackie Chan Action-Comedy, 'Skiptrace'". Forbes . Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ Busch, Anita (July 25, 2016). "'Star Trek Beyond' $30M Debut; 'Lights Out' $8.5M; Jackie Chan's 'Skiptrace' Nails $64M Bow – Int'l Box Office Final". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Skiptrace (2016)". The Numbers . Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  7. 1 2 McClintock, Pamela (May 6, 2013). "Cannes: Fan Bingbing Joins Jackie Chan Action Comedy 'Skiptrace'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Fleming, Mike Jr (September 3, 2014). "Johnny Knoxville Joins Jackie Chan In China-Set 'Skiptrace'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  9. ↑ "成龙新作《绝地逃亡》定档 拳笑归来制霸暑期档". People's Daily (in Chinese). April 20, 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
  10. ↑ "【虎口婆心】贺岁片调档造么？组建家庭影院不惧空档". PJTime (in Chinese). December 15, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  11. 1 2 Lowe, Justin (September 1, 2016). "'Skiptrace': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  12. ↑ Pullinen, Jussi; Peurakoski, Tomi (October 17, 2014). "Youtube-tähti Sara Maria Forsberg näyttelee Renny Harlinin elokuvassa". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  13. ↑ McNary, Dave (May 6, 2013). "Exclusive Media Boards Jackie Chan-Bingbing Fan Comedy". Variety . Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  14. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (May 6, 2013). "Exclusive takes Skiptrace to Cannes". Screen Daily . Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  15. ↑ Lesnick, Silas (October 22, 2013). "Seann William Scott Joins Jackie Chan in Skiptrace". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  16. ↑ Franklin, Garth (October 22, 2013). "Seann W. Scott Joins Jackie Chan In "Skiptrace"". Dark Horizons. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  17. ↑ "On the Set for 12/15/14: JJ Abrams Wraps The Cellar, Tom Hiddleston Finishes I Saw the Light & More". SSN Insider. December 15, 2014. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Chan Kwok-Hung, cinematographer, drowns on set of Jackie Chan film". CBC News. December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  19. ↑ Frater, Patrick (July 24, 2016). "China Box Office: Jackie Chan's 'Skiptrace' Leaps to $60 Million Opening". Variety. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Skiptrace (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Skiptrace". Metacritic . Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  22. ↑ Harvey, Dennis (July 28, 2016). "Film Review: 'Skiptrace'". Variety. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  23. ↑ Genzlinger, Neil (September 1, 2016). "Review: Jokes, Not Punches, Land With a Thud in 'Skiptrace'". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 2016-09-02.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.