131. Ride On; movie review

 

RIDE ON

Cert PG

126 mins

BBFC advice: Contains mild violence, threat, injury detail, rude humour, discrimination

It is so seldom to see a wholesome family film at the cinema nowadays.

So, Ride On would definitely tick the box for Easter for those who are prepared to watch a movie with subtitles.

It's a warm, funny action picture with a great dollop of pathos and, of course, it has kids' favourite, Jackie Chan.

He plays Lao Luo, formerly the most famous stuntman in Chinese cinema who, after serious injury,  has resorted to being a street act for tourists at a studio complex.

His best friend is his horse, Red Hare, who he has reared from young and is now his stunt partner on the rare occasions they are called up by movie-makers.

Meanwhile, he is the target of bullying debt collectors who threaten to take his loyal horse away - much to their cost rather than his.

And Luo seeks to reconnect with his daughter (Haocun Liu) from whom he has been estranged since divorcing her mother when she was a toddler.

She is a trainee lawyer and he needs her help when he faces a legal battle to keep Red Hare just as the opportunity arises for renewed fame.

It is hard not to like Chan's character - largely because he is trying hard to combat his own flaws.

Certainly, he and the horse make an unusual but enchanting double act and, while I have to admit the storyline is very thin, we were were still engaged.

There is also some neat use of footage from some of Chan's previous movies.

Overall, Larry Yang's Ride On is a good time.

Reasons to watch: Wholesome family fun

Reasons to avoid: Too twee at times

Laughs: Four:

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7/10

Did you know? Jackie Chan has performed most of his own stunts throughout his film career, which are choreographed by the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. The team was established in 1983, and Chan has used them in all his subsequent films to make choreographing easier, given his understanding of each member's abilities.

The final word. Larry Yang: "Jackie Chan breaks audiences' stereotypical impressions of his former action-packed heroic roles. That is an unknown but very charming facet of him as an actor." Shine

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