The ascension of Jackie Chan from Hong Kong star to global icon was steadily ramping up in the mid-1990s as Hong Kong productions like Drunken Master II and Rumble In The Bronx were hitting North American shores and audiences liked what they saw. A year before Chan would make his biggest breakthrough with the action-comedy Rush Hour, he starred in his first film scripted and filmed entirely in English with 1997’s Mr. Nice Guy. Like many of his efforts, this film is not striving to be high art with its over-the-top plot and insane action set pieces, but this Sammo Hung-directed effort is a nice distillation of what makes Chan such an electric figure when you see him on the big screen. The film has most widely been seen in the United States via a shortened cut provided by New Line Cinema that has various differences that you can find in the special features section of this review. With this Warner Archive release, North American viewers can own a domestic release of both the original “Golden Harvest Cut” and the “New Line Cut” both remastered in high definition.
For those who actually care about the plot, the basic conceit is that Chan plays a TV chef named Jackie (of course) who gets pulled into a gang conflict with no clear way out besides using the martial arts gifts that the spirits bestowed upon him. The film begins with a meeting between the Italian mob led by the unhinged Giancarlo (Richard Norton) and a street gang known as “The Demons” who are brokering a massive cocaine deal. Conveniently staking out this meeting is television journalist Diana (Gabrielle Fitzpatrick) who is looking for a big scoop for her show. She gets exactly that when she captures Giancarlo taking out the Demons’ leader Grank (Peter Lindsay) before a massive gunfight erupts. Diana becomes the focus of a pursuit when Giancarlo spots her and realizes he must get this incriminating evidence back. When Diana literally runs into Jackie on the street, he aids in her escape but gets involved more than he wishes when she accidentally switches her important tape with one of his cooking shows.
The plot is rife with conveniences that find Jackie showing off incredible martial arts skills that the film never goes out of its way to explain. This straightforward plot is just a way to get from impressive set piece to impressive set piece, and the film certainly delivers on that point. Between the mob and The Demons, there is seemingly a never-ending supply of henchmen just waiting to get dispatched in a PG-13 friendly manner. There is a really fun sequence involving an inflatable mascot that becomes untethered which finds Jackie flying through the air while holding onto ropes while still providing a proper beat down to those he can still reach. Yet, this does not hold a candle to an epic warehouse finale that is lengthy but never boring due to its varied locations. Inventive uses of cement mixers and a mining vehicle that is the size of a house provides some big laughs and eye-popping destruction. This was Chan in the prime of his physicality and the movie utilizes it well in every fight.
The non-action elements of the film are perfectly serviceable. Chan conveys the base emotions he needs to tap into for this role without getting overly hammy as he was known to do in some of his Hong Kong films. The remainder of the cast is nothing to write home about, as they are mostly saddled with threadbare characterization and rote dialogue. This was a time period where the villains just constantly called women derogatory terms when there was any small period of silence. Norton is at his over-the-top best in this big-bad role that never strives for nuance. The Melbourne, Australia, setting gives the film a little bit of a different personality, but you would be forgiven if you mistook it for America with an excess of Aussie accents. Even when this movie is “bad” it is still mostly good. The elements that you want to be impressed by like the fight choreography and a bit of levity to break up the monotony are at the level you need them at. It is ridiculous fun and nothing more.
Video Quality
Mr. Nice Guy comes to Blu-Ray thanks to Warner Archive with a brand new 1080p master from 4K scan of the original camera negative. This presentation is really quite beautiful from beginning to end, and up to the high standards we usually get from Warner Archive. Black levels are very deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is well defined, and there is no sign of print damage to be found. There is a stunning amount of detail present with nice textures on the clothing and within the production design. The new transfer shows off a great amount of depth and enhanced detail. The only minor flaw with this presentation is what appears to be a slight amount of noise in the darkest scenes, but this does not prove to be a major issue. Warner Archive has done a nice job with this release in a way that should please fans greatly.
The New Line “American” version of Mr. Nice Guy is also provided on the disc as a special feature from what looks to be a 2K scan of the interpositive. While not quite equal to the original “Golden Harvest” cut, the quality is pretty grand overall and a treat for fans who have a fondness for the version of the film most widely available in the America prior to this.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive brings this new Blu-Ray to consumers with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that is just as worthy of praise as the video presentation. The dialogue comes through perfectly clearly even in the hustle and bustle of urban landscapes and chaos of the fight scenes. There are some notable environmental effects that give the track a bit of a kick, such as the hard-hitting punches that land with a mighty impact. One key part of the movie is the music within, and everything comes through with a dynamic intensity. The rear channels are not supremely active, but there are some nice elements that make their way for a more immersive experience. There are no defects to the track such as hissing or audio dropouts. This is a well-balanced track that gets the job done in a most pleasing manner. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.
The New Line cut of the film comes with a different DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that offers a different, and arguably more dynamic, experience than the “Golden Harvest” cut. Both tracks are quite pleasing overall.
Special Features
- New Line Edited Version (88:14): For a breakdown of some of the numerous difference in this shorter American version, please check out this guide.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute international trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Mr. Nice Guy is a fun time if you are looking for Jackie Chan to pummel an endless number of stock henchmen with very little thought given to the story. Performances are middling-to-poor and and the script is not great, but the action is so spectacular that the right audience can easily look over these elements. Warner Archive has released another wonderful Blu-Ray featuring an impressive A/V presentation and two versions of the film to choose from for your viewing pleasure. If you are a Jackie Chan fan, you could not ask for better. Recommended
Mr. Nice Guy can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
