Rush Hour 3 (PG-13, 2007)

common sense media says

Just like the first two, but in Paris.

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this third installment in the Rush Hour franchise is a lot like the first two. It's got lots of extremely boisterous comic violence, with a mix of martial arts, slapstick, and shoot-'em-up aesthetics that sometimes leads to bloodied faces and painfully twisted bodies. Motor-mouthed co-star Chris Tucker's brand of verbal comedy includes plenty of sexual references and dicey language that seems designed to get around the PG-13 rating (for example: referring to, but not saying, the "N" word and cutting off "motherf--" before it's finished). A French detective conducts anal probes of Carter and Lee when they arrive in Paris (off-screen), leaving them in some visible pain. Supporting characters smoke cigarettes and drink, and a brief, unconsummated sex scene shows Carter in bed (naked chest) with a woman in her bra and panties. Frequent language includes variations on "s--t," "damn," and "ass."

Positive messages: Carter's comic shtick is relentlessly offensive; the film makes fun of both French characters and anti-French rhetoric; Chinese Triads (gangs) are endlessly brutal, cops are inept, Lee is noble. Cultural differences are repeatedly used as the basis of jokes.

Violence: Repeated fights involving Lee, Carter, and Kenji (as well as Triad thugs in suits) feature hard-hitting, imaginative stunts, as well as shooting. Ambassador is shot at the film's start (body down and bloody chest), which leads to chaos and an urban chase scene with lots of falling, jumping, fighting, and some gunfire. Shootouts (in streets, hospital, nightclub) feature shattered glass, bodies flying and colliding, and bloody faces (a couple of villains fall dead). Carter threatens several others with his gun. A car explodes. George extols the thrills of "being an American" -- that is, committing senseless violence. Soo Yung is tied up and dangled from the Eiffel Tower; an extended fight sequence "on" the Eiffel Tower (courtesy of special effects) shows frequent near-falls and falls.

Sex: Carter makes frequent sexual references; in one scene, he grabs his crotch. Close-up shots of women's bottoms and cleavage. French detective puts on rubber glove for anal probe (afterwards, Carter and Lee walk uncomfortably). Genevieve wears lots of revealing costumes. Jasmine's fight with Lee sounds like rowdy sex to Carter, who encourages his friend to "Tear that ass up!" While pretending to be a costume designer, Carter orders dancers to strip to their thongs (nakedness implied, no nipples shown). Carter describes his desire for sex with Genevieve crudely ("butter you like a slice of Wonder Bread") and in one scene gets into bed with her (his bare chest visible; she's in lingerie; he says, "My nipples are sensitive").

Language: Variations on "s--t," "damn," "hell," and "ass," plus several insinuations of "f--k" (with "mother-"), but it's not said outright. A nun translating a French interrogation scene says the villain uses the "N" word several times, as well as the "H" word and the "W" word (both refer to "whore"), and "the word that rhymes with 'faggot.'" Carter says "hairy stinking balls."

Consumerism: Genevieve is a model (her image appears on billboards). References to Ex-Lax, Poco Loco restaurants, Wonder Bread, Red Bull.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: George smokes cigarettes. Bar scenes show customers smoking and drinking liquor.

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What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about Lee and Carter's loyal, cross-cultural friendship. Why is so much of the movie's humor based on differences in characters' cultures and backgrounds? Is Carter's ignorance really funny, or do the jokes seem forced? Why? How does this movie compare to the first two? Does the series' "formula" still work? What changes would you make if you were the director? Families can also discuss how the film represents women -- what roles do Soo Yung, Genevieve, and Jasmine fill?

What's the story?

Like the original Rush Hour, RUSH HOUR 3 finds perennial LAPD muck-up Carter (Chris Tucker) joining forces with Chinese Chief Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan), even though they're barely able to understand each another. This time, following the shooting of Ambassador Han (Tzi Ma, who was also in the first film), the guys make their way to Paris, a stronghold for Chinese Triad gangs. Supposedly there to protect World Criminal Court chief General Reynard (Max von Sydow), the duo indulges in one raucous scene after another. Not incidentally, they also end up saving two beautiful women, Han's daughter Soo Yung (Jingchu Zhang) and model-singer-gambler Genevieve (Noémie Lenoir). The action is non-stop and includes several urban chase scenes, martial arts slapstick (one pits Carter and Lee against real-life 7'9" basketball player Sun Ming Ming, here a lumbering bodyguard), and shootouts in a hospital and a nightclub. Both characters embody Carter's generally anti-French sentiments (when he meets an "Asian" who speaks French, he instructs, "Stop humiliating yourself!"). Initially dismissive of Yankees ("You lost in Vietnam, you lost in Iraq," he sniffs), George is soon won over by Carter and Lee's thrilling chaos in the form of the car chases and guns.

Is it any good?

In the original Rush Hour, the jokes about cultural ignorance were obvious, but the charismatic players brought different skills to the movie: Chan the inventive martial artist and Tucker the motor mouth. Two films later, the combination is tired; unfortunately but not unexpectedly, the best material (once again) appears in the outtakes at the end. Rush Hour 3 doesn't swerve from director Brett Ratner's formula: The buddies fight, bond, trade japes, rescue beautiful women, and fight off expert killers.

In once scene, George says, he knows what it means to be an American: to "kill people for no reason." Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but compared to the rest of the film's relentless repetitions -- the fights, stunts, and jokes all start to blend together -- George at least emerges as a character with an arc. Everyone else appears to be running, jumping, and screaming in place.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Studio: New Line
Director: Brett Ratner
Cast: Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan, Max von Sydow
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: August 9, 2007
DVD release: December 23, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: sequences of action violence, sexual content, nudity and language.

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This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs

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What parents & educators say

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moviegeek222
teen, 17 years old

Excellent

One of if not the best movie of 2007, Rush Hour 3 delivers the right humor at the right time, and plenty of action. Definately, SEE THIS MOVIE!!!

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Rush Hour 3 (PG-13, 2007)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Rush Hour 3

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Watch our review

Review It

Review Rush Hour 3

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Excellent

Not as good as the first, better than the second.

Cool movie

funny!!!!!!!!!!!!

100th review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's cool

older kids

Very good action packed movie...

Good

i lost six brain cells watching this!

i laughed so much watching this

good

Pushing the envelope on PG-13

Rush to the cinemas to see this!!

good

Jackie Chan fans rejoice!

It was good

A good movie....if you come in with low expectations

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