Jackie Chan its ‘Rush Hour 3’ Wasn’t Great, Says ‘Too Much Money Is No Good’

I love Jackie Chan. I understand that for some people, movies are about gaining insight into the human condition. For me, they are a way to see 10 guys get beat up with a push broom. If your cinematic sensibilities demand that all your favorite films are about the saddest people on earth, have fun. I will be watching stuff where at least one person does a backflip.

At least in the West, the Rush Hour trilogy is probably Chan's most famous series. At first, at least, it was for good reason. Sitting in a theater watching the first Rush Hour might be the sort of blissful experience I’d place myself in during meditation. Or if heaven was just seeing Rush Hour for the first time over and over? Worth the price of ission.

Now, after what feels like an extended break from the spotlight, Chan is back, and we’re all better for it. Both on screen and through the joy of a Jackie Chan press tour. Promoting Karate Kid: Legends, Chan did one of BuzzFeed's “Puppy Interviews,” and, for your own mental health, I recommend giving it a watch.

While blanketed in baby dogs, Chan was asked to reflect on the Rush Hour series as well as for a personal ranking of the entries. His ranking mirrors pretty much everybody’s, I would think, which is a simple descending order with each installment. Though he doesn’t go into detail, you can read on his face his glee on ing filming the first, and what seems like a bit of distaste for the third.

What made the difference? It seems that Chan, unsurprisingly for someone whose trademark is improvised weaponry and stunts as impressive as they are simple, preferred a smaller-budget production. He smiles recalling that the first Rush Hour was “little money, little time” and the energy on set was “go, go, go!” Which fits perfectly with the slapstick chaos you see on screen.

The second he describes as “lot of money, lot of time.” The third, with an air of exasperation, he declares, “Too much money! Too much time!” You can almost see the through line for a man who also never seemed overly enamored with worldwide fame. He adds, shaking his head, “Too much money is no good.” 

The man just wants to make fun movies, and it’s a sentiment plenty in Hollywood could learn from.

I get it, Jackie, and I agree with you. At this point, I’ve seen a billion guys smashing through a plate glass window against a wall of flames, and it sparks absolutely nothing in me. Watching a group of street toughs get rinsed by groceries and a trucker jacket? I think about it once a month, at least.