The last thing to come to mind when thinking of a Jackie Chan film is a romantic comedy, yet here we are. Released in 1999, Gorgeous was his first foray into being a romantic leading man. It was a bit of a surprise when I’d initially heard about it since he never really focused on romance in his previous films. I’d read interviews where Chan would talk about avoiding romance in films since some of his rabid female fans would be jealous. When two of his fans learned he would marry his girlfriend, they sadly took their lives. It’s understandable why he was so apprehensive about doing certain types of films.
It’s a problematic film, but it was certainly a welcome change of pace, and nice to see him stretch his acting skills. Previously released in the U.S. and cut by 20min, 88 Films has released it to Blu-ray, and the end result is….Gorgeous.
Bu (Shu Qi) is a young Taiwanese girl who has just been proposed to by a boyfriend. While dealing with the inner turmoil of having to give a yes or no answer, she discovers a literal message in a bottle. The thrill of adventure and romance is too much for her to deny after reading it, so she decides to travel to Hong Kong to find its author. She finds and meets Albert, the author, only to learn he’s gay.
She then meets billionaire playboy C.N. Chan (Jackie Chan). The two grow close until several obstacles threaten to tear them apart, including her Bu’s fiancé and C.N.’s nemesis he’s been competing with for most of his life. Who will win her heart, or will Bu realize none of them are what she’s looking for?
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Gorgeous is a bit of an uneven film. The humor doesn’t always work, and some are lost in translation. Chan isn’t an ideal romantic lead, making it difficult to buy into. On the other hand, Shu Qi is perfect for a film like this and is terrific. This film brought her to my attention, and it was Corey Yuen’s So Close (2002) that catapulted her into the limelight as a possible action star. So Close is another film that’s long overdue for a special edition Blu-ray release. (Can you hear me, 88 Films?)
There are several other solid performances from Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Emil Chau, and several others. There are two versions of the film available on the Blu-ray, the two-hour Hong Kong cut and a ninety-nine-minute International cut, which is my preferred version since it goes on a bit long.
The film isn’t completely devoid of action. There are four sequences, with the first two being the weakest. Those are played mostly for laughs and take place on a boat and around a motorcycle. The two one-on-one fights with Brad Allan, though, are terrific showcases for both performers. Both scenes are just Chan and Allan going toe to toe, not in a malicious manner but more to see who the better fighter is, respectfully.
The final outing between the two veers into humor near the end, but until then, the skills they display and the speed at which they work with one another are nothing short of spectacular. These scenes alone are worth the price of the disc and the time you may spend watching the movie.
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Let me take a minute to talk about the Australian-born Bradley James Allan. As a young martial arts enthusiast, he was introduced to Chan when filming Mr. Nice Guy. Impressed with his talent, Chan would cast him in a small role, then later in Who Am I? Gorgeous would be a huge showcase for him, and Allan would be the first non-Asian member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. He would then end up in Hollywood as a stunt and fight coordinator, working on major films like Pacific Rim, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and Wonder Woman. He also worked as a second unit director on The World’s End, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He had such a promising career in the business and passed away far too young, at 48, due to an undisclosed illness.
88 Films has assembled the definitive release of Gorgeous, featuring the aforementioned versions, two audio commentaries, interviews, a music video, newly translated subtitles, and much more. While not a perfect film, there’s plenty to enjoy, including Shu Qi, Chan, and of course, Brad Allan. It’s another wonderful release you need in your Jackie Chan collection.
