Hollywood has a bad habit of taking Chinese martial arts stars and turning them into B-movie actors. When Jet Li’s latest film, “The One,” opens tomorrow, it will be one more nail in the coffin of Li’s career.
“The One” could have been a great movie. The story assumes that other universes exist and people have harnessed the technology to travel between them. The plot follows Gabriel Yulaw, played by Li, as he travels between dimensions, killing his other incarnations in the 125 different universes. As Yulaw kills more versions of himself, their life force is distributed among the remaining Yulaws, giving them superpowers.
Eventually, only two Gabriel Yulaws are left ,and the bad Yulaw must make his final pursuit for the good Yulaw, known as Gabe. Gabe is an upstanding sheriff, husband and nice guy. He has been confused by his growing power, but has no idea what is happening. But when Gabe is confronted by the bad Yulaw, everything starts going wrong.
The Multiverse Bureau of Investigation, an interdimensional police force, is hot on Yulaw’s trail and will do anything to protect Gabe and cosmic balance. Nobody knows what would happen if Yulaw becomes “The One,” and they don’t want to find out.
The story combines the best elements of “Highlander,” “The Matrix” and the television show “Sliders.” But the result is disappointingly flat. This movie fails because it spreads itself too thin. It tries to be philosophical – and fails. It tries to make Yulaw sympathetic – and fails. It tries to turn plot devices into characters – and fails. There is no way an action movie running a mere 80 minutes could achieve these lofty goals. “Once Upon a Time in China,” one of Li’s finest films, breaks the cliché barrier but runs over two hours.
What is really upsetting is that Li finally gives himself a viable excuse to do the gravity defying wire stunts he is famous for. But instead of taking advantage of the possibilities, the action is restrained and rarely touches the quality of “The Matrix.” Many of the effects have a hokey TV feel to them. For example: Yulaw outruns cops pursuing him in cars, and one of the officers exclaims, “He’s doing 50!”
There are more small jokes and funny lines which are amusing but lower the quality of the movie. The funniest – and at the same time saddest – is hearing Yulaw declare, “I am nobody’s bitch!”
The movie is not complete crap. The fight scenes are good (especially a bit with Li handcuffing a group of assailing policemen), but not great. By playing multiple parts and eventually fighting himself, Li has diluted himself and delivers watered-down action. Paying more than three dollars to see this movie would be a mistake when Li’s better films from China could be rented for less.
Mason West is the senior Pulse reporter for the Oregon Daily Emerald. He can be reached at [email protected].