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Filmmaking styles definitely vary by region. French filmmakers and British filmmakers and Scandinavian filmmakers all have different perspectives and personalities—and their approach tends to differ quite a bit from that of mainstream Hollywood filmmakers. And the quirky Hong Kong crime thriller The Rookies is no different, going all-in with its over-the-top action.
The Rookies follows Internet celebrity Zhao Feng (Talu Wang) through his transformation from extreme climbing enthusiast to international spy. After a stunt ends badly, landing him right in the middle of an illegal deal between terrorists, he’s contacted by a woman named Bruce (Milla Jovovich), the leader of a shadowy organization known as the Order of the Phantom Knighthood. The organization needs his help to stop a biological weapon from getting into the wrong hands. But after traveling to Budapest, he ends up working with his own team of misfits to do the job.
With a Hollywood director and a summer blockbuster budget, The Rookies may have played out much like a comic book superhero movie—with strong, heroic characters and a whole lot of explosive action. And while the idea here is similar, the style is so very different.
The lengthy opening title sequence, which seems to be a mix between the opening sequence of a Bond movie and a kids’ cartoon, sets the stage for what’s to come. What plays out isn’t so much comic-style action as it is cartoonish. But that’s the Hong Kong action style. It’s overacted and completely campy—and it’s all enhanced by some cheesy dubbing, too.
Nothing in this film is meant to be taken seriously. The story is silly, with random meetings of mysterious characters and some wildly overcomplicated plans. The characters are exaggerated (except for Jovovich’s Bruce, who’s straight-faced and dry), the acting is as hammy as it gets, and the action is frenetic and often wacky. And, at times, it ratchets up the craziness with animated sequences and stylized scenes that do little for the film besides padding its runtime.
Admittedly, this brand of wild and crazy action movie takes some getting used to—especially for fans of more straightforward (and straight-laced) Hollywood action. But while it’s completely ridiculous and sometimes almost nonsensical, it also makes for plenty of frenzied fun.
The Rookies isn’t the kind of high-action crime thriller that you might be expecting. Everything here is exaggerated and over-the-top. It certainly isn’t a great movie, but the fast pace and comical adventures make it an entertaining one.
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