KUNG FU YOGA (2017) **

Kung Fu Yoga shows us a more mature side of Jackie Chan.  For starters, his character is named “Jack” Chan”, which sounds a lot more grown-up and adult.  Another sign of maturity:  He’s not afraid to play his age.  When Chan practices on a wooden man, he appears winded after the workout.  (Although he’s still juvenile enough to be seen with cartoonish spots over his head afterwards.)

Jackie… err… Jack is an archeologist who has invented a new spray that can immediately restore any ancient artifact.  A beautiful woman brings him an old treasure map to be restored.  Together, they discover the location of a lost treasure and go on an expedition to find it.  En route, they come face to face with a rival treasure hunter who wants to take it all for himself.

The opening sequence is a bizarre flashback involving Chinese and Indian warriors battling on a cheesy CGI battlefield.  The effects are really bad throughout the scene, which at times makes it look like a crappy video game.  Since it all leads up to a herd of elephants being knocked over like a bunch of dominos, I guess it’s okay.

Kung Fu Yoga was directed by the great Stanley Tong, who’s directed some of Chan’s best stuff.  Although there are flashes of their old school brilliance here, there’s not quite enough to make the film worthwhile.  We get an OK car chase that starts off just fine but is undermined by a comic relief puking CGI lion.  Tong also gives us an Indian bazaar scene that involves magic ropes and sword swallowers that was done much better in Octopussy. 

I will say that the movie gets better as it goes along.  The scene where Chan’s assistants have to contend with some CGI hyenas works surprisingly well and the finale is solid.  I could've done without the Bollywood dance number at the end though (which I guess was to be expected since most of the action takes place in India).  Unfortunately, we don’t get any of Chan’s patented outtakes during the end credits, which is disappointing.