One of my past criticisms of Jackie Chan’s modern filmography is the lack of everyone involved accepting the age of the legend. That’s not to say that he can’t do action anymore – ‘The Shadow’s Edge’ proved that he absolutely can – but getting him to take part in things beyond him and then getting post-production to hide it with effects is anathema to me. Added to this is the need to give him the perky action films of yesteryear (well, poor imitations thereof) while never giving him something he can get his teeth into. ‘Ride On’ was a better attempt to provide the latter and now ‘Unexpected Family’ appears with a mission to showcase Chan the actor.
Ren (Chan) is a familiar face in the neighbourhood and, though he lives alone, he has numerous acquaintances in the area. He befriends young runaway Zhong, though the latter sees Ren as a means to an end. When Ren is taken ill and it’s revealed that he has the signs of Alzheimer’s, the few genuine friends he has made rally to make his life more comfortable. In his confused state he now thinks Zhong is the son he lost years before and the youngster is paid by the others to maintain the façade. But as time goes on, Zhong begins to bond with Ren while the other members of this unusual family unite to confront their own problems.
The first thing to trumpet is just how brave it is to see an actor like Jackie Chan, who has always been associated with invincibility and superhuman feats, taking on a role that tackles Alzheimer’s. It adds a power to the story too, as we see the sad eventuality of those who fall prey to the illness, the fact that many have been superhuman in their own lives and become shells of who they once were. To take on the part is much to his credit. And he fulfils the role with dignity and subtlety, giving Ren a stubbornness that makes him a challenging but sympathetic protagonist. I always bristled at the past detractors claiming that Chan was a one-trick pony, someone without range, especially as past performances in the Police Story films and ‘Crime Story’ have shown that he’s much more than just an action comedy stooge. It could be argued that Chan hasn’t always helped his case with recent roles, namely things like ‘Panda Plan’, but ‘Unexpected Family’ will hopefully remind people of what the man can do without action.
While Jackie Chan is excellent in ‘Unexpected Family’, it has to be said that the writing and direction don’t quite match his performance. The needless inclusion of very broad humour in the first half of the film feels out of place and shows that those behind the camera lack the courage of their convictions. It’s not that humour shouldn’t be used in stories with a serious theme, but it’s so clumsy here that it stops ‘Unexpected Family’ being something special. The background characters are also lacking, with Zhong being a frustrating figure in the first hour. Things definitely get better in the latter portion of the film, though the weightlifting storyline is a little unnecessary (though not too onerous).
‘Unexpected Family’ ends with poignancy, though, and whatever missteps there were earlier can be forgiven for the overall effect. I have a soft spot for films about unconventional friendships and family dynamics and to see the great Jackie Chan in it is exciting. It might not get the attention of something like ‘The Shadow’s Edge’, but ‘Unexpected Family’ is a heartfelt and ultimately moving story that deserves to be seen.
