I have been acclimating to a new life lately. And after quite a long time away from watching films, writing reviews, and generally being in the space of the film industry, finding my way back proved quite a challenge. I needed something short, simple, and interesting to jog up my zeal again. Seeing my favourite childhood stars from vastly different genres together in one movie piqued my interest and sparked the flame I needed.
I think when most people think of a personality like Jackie Chan in a film, they'd expect the sort of martial arts stuff he did for so many years and for which we have particularly known him. Such films were always thrilling to me as a kid, so I looked forward to really enjoying this film. And, also, seeing the likes of John Cena, who used to be a professional wrestler and quite a big name in WWE, in a title that spelled "action," made me further interested.
The film starts like the usual Jackie Chan film setting that many of us are used to—that dramatic and tension-filled beginning that tells you that the film is going to be a hell of the action kind, with lots of guns and fights. The introduction of the second protagonist, however, gave me the feeling that it was going to be something different from what I'd normally see in action films—some loosening up."
There is a short comic display right at the beginning of the film, and I immediately sensed that the film was going to take an interesting approach, especially with the comic. In the end, I realised the film wasn't the kind to be taken so seriously. It turned out to be an action film with a lot of comic relief here and there.
It was in that moment and thereafter, when both protagonists met one another in the film, that it really dawned on me that I was going to enjoy the film for one more reason, and that was the subtle comedy that was thrown here and there. Right there in a fight scene, when my eagerness for what would happen next should be high, I was laughing at the hilarious dialogues and silly interactions the protagonists had.
Comedy aside, I will say that the fight scenes and "action" moments were very entertaining. A lot of them didn't make logical sense, but they were very thrilling and exciting to watch. It's like that with films like this anyway; a lot of things would be exaggerated just for the sole purpose of entertainment. One potential problem with all that, however, is that they can be overdone and then end up looking too unrealistic for comfort. It was quite okay and done well in this film.
Camaraderie
...is something I should talk about. For films like this to truly work and be successful—with all the funny dialogue and silliness—there has to be some truth to them in reality. There has to be that form of mutual friendship and respect between the actors in reality and on set for it to truly be represented on screen. I could sense that there had already been some kind of bond between Jackie and John, and even between them and the other actors on set, and that it naturally worked in the film. Maybe this is a bit of a spoiler, but I think it's worth mentioning.
The entire storyline of the film isn't so different from what we are used to. It was nothing particularly novel, yet it seemed quite alright with the other elements that gave the film life. There wasn't that much depth in its story, but it seemed apt for what the writers intended, bringing the stars together and creating something memorable. I would say that if one is into something deeper, maybe some complex, mind-boggling story, and not into the whole silliness, one might just pass.
I look forward to Hidden Strike 2, not just because I enjoyed the film but also because the film ended with an unavoidable hint that there was going to be a sequel. There were some little unresolved matters—nothing too serious, though, but interesting to see how they'd end.
I would recommend this to anyone who's looking to unwind and wants to catch some laughs while they are at it. It's basically a film anyone can watch and enjoy, I think, depending on preferences. I'll give it a rating of, say, eight out of ten.
⇾ 𝟠/𝟙𝟘.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
other images are screenshots
