THE TUXEDO (2002) ** It's the kind of film that's going to live or die on its stars: the CIA (here cleverly disguised as the CJA) has developed a tuxedo that can be programmed through a watch to do...just about anything. This is stretched across a very thin plot, and Jackie Chan is expected to divert our attention from that by smiling and getting into unusual situations, and generally exercising his personal charm. That he gets away with it to the extent that he does is a tribute to that charm, and you have to admit that he works some of the most absurd (suit) scenes like a master. Jennifer Love Hewitt is standing by-one would think to be the love interest-but they entirely forget to make any romance until the last minute or so. This would appear to limit her relevance to near nothing, but she pitches in some pretty good bits; especially when she goes off the top out of character and shows us a little bella donna temper, as when calling the other actresses names. James Brown is always a welcome diversion, and the scene where the tux programs Chan to groove like the King of Soul is probably my favourite.
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