Reviews

Films

The Lake House

Directed by Alejandro Agresti, starring Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock

It makes sense for Keanu Reeves to star in The Lake House. After ascending to the title of Geek Overlord via his turns in the Matrix trilogy, Reeves shows versatility by returning to not just romance films, but romance films with a sci-fi twist. You see, this is the story of two star-crossed lovers who communicate with each other not via email or even that outdated medium the telephone, but a magical letterbox. Somehow, without the use of a flux capacitor or De Lorean, their letterbox transports messages along the time-space continuum. Seriously, it does!

Let's backtrack a little bit first. Alex (Reeves) is an architect who likes to spend time at a lakeside property built by his tough-love father. In the letterbox he finds a letter from an occupant of the house requesting that her mail be forwarded to another address. "That's weird," thinks Alex, "no one else but me lives in this house." Turns out that the letter is written by Kate (Sandra Bullock), who is living two years in the future. Undaunted by the sheer scientific improbability of their situation, the pair soon develop a bond but become frustrated by their conundrum.

Ambitious huh! And risky too, considering that the lead actor isn't known for his dramatic range. Mind you, Reeves is hard to dislike, and his performance here is less wooden than what we have come to expect from him. This can perhaps be attributed to his coupling with Speed co-star Bullock, who thankfully tones down her bubbly persona to play the lonely Kate. There is maddening implausibility strewn throughout The Lake House, and while it doesn't really reach the lofty heights it sets for itself, the results are surprisingly human. Ben Davey

Shanghai Noon

Directed by Tom Dey, starring Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson

Long before it became his defining trait, Owen Wilson's half-baked mysticism was refreshing. Shanghai Noon, one of his first starring roles in a big budget film, benefited greatly from Wilson's shaggy-haired surfer-dude mannerisms. Most of all, Wilson's vague musings allowed Jackie Chan to stick to what he does best: physical cinema. In a few of Chan's other Hollywood films, he has struggled with the language, but here, with a sidekick doing all the talking, he's no longer burdened with that responsibility.

Starting off in Beijing's Forbidden City in the late 19th century, we meet Chon Wang (Chan), an imperial guard who is on duty when the Chinese princess (Lucy Liu) flees with an American. Soon after, a ransom is demanded for her return and so Chon sets off to the America to track her down. Soon he crosses paths with inept outlaw Roy O'Bannon (Wilson) and the two wind up reluctant partners after they figure out that rescuing the princess is in their mutual interests. But after the pair are declared wanted men, their mission becomes a tough ask.

Watching Jackie Chan strikes up memories of the most revered physical performers of the silent era, who also performed their own stunts. And what Shanghai Noon understands is that Chan is at his best once he's freed of the responsibility of delivering all of the one-liners. Most of that is left to Wilson who strikes up a rare chemistry with the Hong Kong superstar. Some inconsistencies in the plot and a few strange moments in the finale are stumbling blocks, but they certainly don't spoil what is for the most part an immensely enjoyable romp. BD

(China Daily 11/30/2007 page20)