Having said this before, it has never been truer than with this film. Jackie Chan has nothing left to prove. He’s an innovator, a legend, and someone who has risked his life countless times just to entertain. His latest film, Ride On (2023), shows a different side of the performer while paying homage to his past accomplishments.
It’s not an action film or comedy (though it does have those elements), it’s more of a drama with Chan giving a stellar performance while tugging at your heartstrings. Thanks to Well Go USA Entertainment, director Larry Chang’s collaboration with the star is coming to physical media on October 24, 2023.
Luo (Jackie Chan) is a washed-up stuntman who is barely making ends meet. The only thing he really has going for him is the fact he’s caring for his retired stunt horse, Red Hare. After an altercation with some thugs, the video taken by spectators goes viral, and the two pals are thrust into the spotlight. Unfortunately, the horse is about to be auctioned off to cover debts, and the only person he can turn to for help is his estranged daughter and her lawyer boyfriend.
With his career on the upswing, he tries to recapture his former glory with his horse while attempting to reconnect with the child he left years ago in order to further his career. At his age, time is running out, and he will have to make certain sacrifices in order to mend bridges and hopefully prove he never stopped loving his daughter.
The last thing I want to have while watching a Jackie Chan film is tears running down my cheeks, but Ride On hit me in the feels for numerous reasons. There’s the relationship between Chan and Liu Haocun, who plays his daughter. I have daughters myself, and to this day, I still try to do things so they’re proud of their father. The believability factor is there between the two actors, and how the subject is approached works when I wasn’t really expecting it to.
Then you have the relationship between Chan and his horse. I don’t have a horse, but I do have a cat who slept on my lap while watching Ride On. It’s a sweet storyline that’s emotional while still offering up many laughs. Then there’s the internal struggle Chan’s character deals with wanting to be remembered and a legacy, something we all go through. The story isn’t necessarily original, but the actors are so good that it’s easy to overlook a couple of minor missteps.
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As a long-time Chan fan, the references to his previous films are plenty and done in such a subtle manner you may actually miss some of them. The film also serves as a tribute to the work of stuntmen all over the world. They do so much to add to the believability of film, and more often than not, their work goes unrecognized. For years, Chan did his own stunts so he knows what their struggles are and gives them the props they deserve.
Well Go USA has given us a disc that looks and sounds terrific with a few bonus features like a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, On My Horse featurette, trailer, and an English language version if you’re not fond of subtitles.
Ride On delivers the action and comedy you’d expect from a Jackie Chan film but also stirs up really strong emotions. It’s a family-friendly affair that will have you cheering in excitement while wiping away the tears.
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