龍馬精神 - Ride On

Ride On (龍馬精神) is an 2023 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Jackie Chan and Liu Hao Cun. The supporting cast include Guo Qi Lin, Yu Ai Lei, and Andy On. Cameo appearances by Joey Yung, Wu Jing, and Yu Rong Guang. There are too many other to name that make small bit part appearances.



Jackie plays Lou, a down on his luck former stuntman working with his horse Red Hare. Lou takes Red Hare around Hengdian World Studios as a picture opportunity. Lou is in debt to a loan shark that tries to collect from him throughout the film. The other major storyline is that Lou got Red Hare from a friend without any paperwork. The lawyers come for the horse to say that it is theirs. Lou seeks the help of his estranged daughter whom he has not seen in 6 years, Xiaobao. Xiaobao enter their lives and tries to save the horse from taken away. Which transitions to preventing her father and Red Hare from getting hurt through lots of dangerous stunts. Will they be able to reconcile and keep the horse?

This is a long movie at around 2 hours of actual story time. Its a bit corny in many places as is Jackie's recent style these past 5-7 years. Jackie's in a transition time of making more sentimental films vs how he moved to more gritty films since returning from the US. Shinjuku Incident(新宿事件) and Police Story: Lockdown (Police Story 2013/警察故事2013) are examples of his return from the US. His films of the last few years have been more light hearted and rely less on his old skool acrobatics. Just less, not completely. Acrobatics are still at the core of the action in his films.

There are lots of crying scenes in this film. Liu Hao Cun is standing out has possibly part of the next generation of film actresses. Liu Hao Cun has another film releasing soon that I definitely want to check out.

I caught this via Peacock.