--- title: "Rush Hour 2: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/rush-hour-2/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/rush-hour-2" critics_score: 52 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Rush Hour 2 (2001): what the critics said Critics' score 52 from 12 reviews: 2 positive, 5 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews lean towards mixed and negative, though even several detractors find something to enjoy in the performers. Praise clusters around Jackie Chan’s physical comedy, his chemistry with Chris Tucker, and Zhang Ziyi’s forceful screen presence. Chan’s acrobatic slapstick and individual action sequences provide the most consistent pleasures, while Zhang earns approval across otherwise sharply divided assessments. The central partnership still works for several critics who find the sequel disappointing. The disagreement is over how much those strengths compensate for repetition, thin plotting and abrasive humour. Variety regards the familiar formula as a strength and finds the sequel superior; Empire thinks it loses the original’s fun and is less entertaining than its outtakes. Elsewhere, reservations focus on Tucker overwhelming Chan, race-based jokes that grate, and action that lacks invention. The spread is wide: the same familiarity reads as enjoyable continuity to some critics and a dispiriting rehash to others. ## Variety — Robert Koehler Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 27 July 2001. Koehler praises the sequel as a superior, energetic action comedy that preserves the original’s winning formula. He singles out Chan and Tucker’s chemistry and Zhang Ziyi’s screen presence, while noting that the first fight disappoints. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/rush-hour-2-2-1200469002/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 August 2001. Bradshaw finds it enjoyable, though it requires some indulgence even from Jackie Chan fans. He praises Zhang Yiyi’s striking presence as an action heroine. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/aug/03/culture.reviews2) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/rush-hour-2-2001) ## Screen Daily — Emanuel Levy Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 30 July 2001. The page identifies this as a review, but the paywall shell does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It also provides no readable detail about what the critic praised or criticized. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/rush-hour-2/406434.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 3 August 2001. The page appears to be a review of Rush Hour 2, but its text is inaccessible. The critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be determined from the available page. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/03/movies/film-review-making-fun-with-feet-and-tongue.html) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film intermittently entertaining but misses Jackie Chan’s earlier knockabout charm. The action set-pieces, especially the Las Vegas battle, are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/rush-hour-2-7433168.html) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 3/5. 3 August 2001. The critic finds the sequel familiar but entertaining, with the leads still making a satisfying team. Jackie Chan’s acrobatic slapstick is the standout, while the race-based humour can grate. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/rush-hour-2-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating 1.5/4. 4 August 2001. Gonzalez dismisses the film as bland and not worth a lengthy critique. He singles out Zhang Ziyi as its saving grace, praising the moments when she knocks Chris Tucker’s character into silence. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/rush-hour-2/) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Thomas finds the sequel an inferior follow-up that loses the original’s sense of fun. He praises Jackie Chan’s graceful action and notes Zhang Ziyi’s forceful turn, but concludes the film is less entertaining than its outtakes. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rush-hour-2-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 3 August 2001. Turan finds the sequel familiar, plot-thin, and too self-satisfied, despite the stars’ enduring chemistry. He praises Jackie Chan’s physical inventiveness and Chris Tucker’s comic energy, while noting that the funniest moments arrive in the outtakes. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-03-ca-30015-story.html) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 3 August 2001. Tobias judges the sequel a disappointing, mercenary rehash of the original. He praises the chemistry between Chan and Tucker, but complains that Tucker’s shrill comedy overwhelms Chan’s less inventive action. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/rush-hour-2-1798192714) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). The available description suggests a critical view of the comedy. It singles out jokes about Asians’ stature and the American character’s presence in Hong Kong as complaints. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/rush-hour-2) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/rush-hour-2.md