2002. 1 hr 30 min., Rated PG-13 for action violence, sexual content and language. Dir: Kevin Donovan. Cast: Jackie Chan (Jimmy Tong), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Del Blaine), Jason Isaacs (Clark Devlin), Debi Mazar (Steena), Ritchie Coster (Diedrich Banning).

This is the kind of movie that you don't care what I say about it (as if you ever do), because the "Jackie Chan Movie" is well ingrained in our minds as to what to expect: plenty of stunts, silliness and world-control-seeking baddies. They're all there in this one, too.

However, if you're familiar with this type of flick, then you have some reference, and might wonder how it stacks up with the Jackie Chan filmography. I'm no aficionado of Chan movies, but I will say The Tuxedo is a few rungs below Rush Hour or Shanghai Noon in terms of mainstream hits.

I really, really hate to say it, but the fault for this could lie with Jennifer Love Hewitt as the co-star. She's so perky and so cute, yet all she does is shriek and get out of the way, being a general annoyance in this role. I'm sorry, Jennifer. I still adore you!

But, alas, I have to stick to my guns in my critic super-wardrobe: pocket T-shirt, soccer shorts and no shoes or socks. In this attire at my computer with baseball in the background, I have no recourse other than to tell the truth (not to mention that I can eat an entire bag of chips without one hitting the cushions; no, I don't have a date this weekend, why do you ask?). For a movie about chemistry controlling the planet, the filmmakers managed to find none with the stars of the movie. Jennifer and Jackie try, and bless their hearts they enjoy persnickety repartee, just none of it thoroughly entertaining. Silly, yes. Funny, not really. Only the occasional titters.

In support, Jason Isaacs (The Patriot) actually has the best role, as the suave millionaire spy who tries to help Chan figure out the 10% of personality he needs to woo chicks. Unfortunately he's not there that long. Ritchie Coster also gets some juice as the likable rogue. It never feels so bad when you learn millions of people will die horribly, as long as it's delivered by a guy with a charming British accent.

Do I need to get into the direction and editing? Okay, so the action is pretty fun, although some wire tricks are obvious. And I was distracted by some obvious reshoots added to the end of the film. There's also the weird replays of certain stunts a few times. That's a bit distracting and unnecessary. You know, besides all that, it was slick enough.

Hey, it was either I see this or teen garbage like Swimfan, idiotic Tom Green pranks on Stealing Harvard or depressing child kidnapping with Kevin Bacon in Trapped. So I'll take the silly action of Jackie Chan any October afternoon over those. Is that not a strong enough recommendation? Sorry. But that's all you get from a T-shirt & shorts super-suit.