A sequel that picks up almost immediately where its predecessor left off, Police Story 2 finds our likeable officer, Chan Ka Kui (Jackie Chan) in a rather precarious position. . . reprimanded for his blatant destruction of the mall (in order to catch the villains at the end of the previous feature), not only is he demoted, but he also learns that all of his hard work was for naught – for drug kingpin Mr. Chu (Yuen Chor), who was supposed to spend life behind bars, has been released by a trifecta of doctors who have claimed that he only has three months left to live.
Yet, this is only the beginning. . . throw in a spiralling out of control blackmailing case (in which a company’s holdings are being bombed), and more issues between Ka Kui and his spunky girlfriend May (Maggie Cheung), and we can easily say that he has his plate full.
Just in case you are someone who likes a refresher before we delve any further into this one, here is the link to my original Police Story review: http://filmizon.com/movie_reviews/chan-fan/
A necessary flaw, this sequel aims to catch people up on what happened in the previous film. . . reintroducing us to the cast, refreshing past plot lines, and filling in the gaps for this new story which means that the movie does not, at first, flow as gracefully as the original (and is a little light on action for awhile). It takes some time for the set up to hit its stride, but once it does, Chan, who once again writes and directs, introduces us to his unique style and flair for action (the camera always in the right place to catch the visually perfect stunt).
Forced to deal with two fronts (some might argue three – as May is furious with him after duty calls and she is left in a tricky situation), Ka Kui is continuously harassed by Mr. Chu’s countless cronies, while the entire Hong Kong police force soon learn that these bomb threats are not idle ones. Will Ka Kui be able to balance his personal and professional life? Can a burgeoning relationship last when someone is so committed to their risky job? Is Mr. Chu actually ill, or has he bribed three doctors to get him out of prison? And, perhaps most importantly, will Ka Kui be able to keep infrastructure damages down so that the Hong Kong police force doesn’t get another hefty bill in the mail?
Once again developing a bevy of out of this world stunts (done by Chan and his talented stunt men), even Maggie Cheung did her own action scenes. . . much to her own detriment – for she suffered a major head wound after a metal frame crashed down upon her (this sequence, along with all of the other outtakes can be seen in the after credits – always a most entertaining viewing experience). Likewise, one of Chan’s best sequences finds him jumping from a balcony across two trucks and through a pane of advertising glass (he got badly injured – smashing through the wrong pane, he got severe cuts to his head and wrist. . . yet this is the shot used in the movie). There are also two other noteworthy action sequences, one found in a playground, the other in a factory – both works of Jackie Chan art.
Chan, understanding that he wants a truly entertaining viewing experience for his audience, always laces his work with wit, comedic gags, and fun action. Though there is enough drama to keep things grounded, he never forgets to awe, to inspire, to thrill, always in a way that allows the audience to leave with a lightened heart, as if they have just spent the most wonderful day in an action packed amusement park.
A worthwhile and fruitful sequel that follows up one of the actor/writer/director’s most iconic films, Police Story 2 helped further build the man, the myth, the legend that is Jackie Chan. . . another gargantuan hit that helped spawn even more sequels – four to be precise, as well as an official and an unofficial spinoff. Always a thrill, there truly is nothing like watching a film where everyone does their own stunts (no tricks or doubles), a masterclass in control, movement, and talent. So, enjoy this explosive sequel, it’s the bomb.