Billed very much as a meeting of East and West, and perhaps the most successful action-comedy trilogy of the last decade, the Rush Hour movies have earned over a billion dollars worldwide, courtesy of some smart action, and scripts that never take themselves too seriously. And, of course, much of the appeal lies at the heart of its mismatched leading pair. All three of the films have made plenty of Chris Tucker?s loudmouth American rule-breaking cop, and Jackie Chan?s respectful Eastern martial arts expert who does everything by the book. It?s this culture clash, and the engaging actors, that has catapulted Rush Hour into one of modern cinema?s most successful franchises. As is the case with most trilogies, there?s a rule of diminishing returns here, with the first Rush Hour being the best. In the original, the two lead characters become reluctant partners to solve an otherwise forgettable case, generating plenty of laughs and delivering some smashing action. Rush Hour 2 moves the plot onto to uncovering a counterfeit ring, but it soon again takes a back seat to more fooling around, and more entertainment. By Rush Hour 3 any notion of tangible story had long since left the building, allowing the two stars to strut their stuff, once again delivering at the box office. Few would build an argument for the Rush Hour Trilogy being classics of modern cinema. But conversely, there?s a lot to be said for a trio of films that put fun very firmly at the top of their agenda. That?s why all three are set to be watched and enjoyed time and time again. --Jon Foster