Ride On (2023)

Ride On (2023)

 6/10

 

Starring

Jackie Chan

 

Directed by Larry Yang

 

What’s important to note is what Ride On is not—it’s not a semi-autobiography of Jackie Chan’s life as a stuntman. He fits the role well because he is a stunt actor and a major star known for doing his own stunts. Those characteristics align perfectly with the movie’s main character, and it seems like the role was written with him in mind. Ride On is a comedy-drama about Lao Luo (Jackie Chan), whose life is falling apart as he drowns in debt.

It was fun seeing Jackie fight again, but this movie doesn’t have the intense, comedic fight sequences you’d typically expect from his films. The comedic action here is toned down.

Lao’s world is also facing a major blow—he’s being sued by a studio that wants to repossess his stunt horse, Red. Lao has raised and trained Red since its birth, forming a deep bond with the animal. On top of that, his personal life is in shambles. He’s a divorcee, and his only child—a grown daughter—wants nothing to do with him. This estrangement stems from his decision to prioritize his stuntman career over his family, leaving her when she was just eight.

Now, faced with overwhelming challenges—debt, a lawsuit, and no work—Lao turns to his daughter for help, begging her to assist with the lawsuit since she’s studying law.

The movie leans heavily on the charm of Jackie Chan, the actor we know and love, rather than the character he’s playing. It’s hard to separate the two while watching, and I found myself rooting for Lao—not because of his decisions but simply because he’s Jackie Chan. I love Jackie Chan and wanted everything to work out for him in the movie, which made it difficult to view Lao as a distinct character.

Ride On is enjoyable as we watch Jackie navigate Lao’s struggles, with the favors and kindness he’s shown to others eventually coming back to help him. Thanks to one of his students and street performances with Red, Lao manages to raise enough money to improve his circumstances.

However, the portrayal of the father-daughter relationship feels overly simplistic and unrealistic. It’s almost impossible for such a strained relationship to be repaired as quickly and easily as this movie suggests, relying on memories and emotional manipulation to bring the daughter back into her father’s life. If the movie has one major flaw, it’s this. It downplays many deeper emotional issues, and the resolution between Lao and his daughter feels unconvincing. Similarly, the level of influence the movie allows him to suddenly have in her life is difficult to believe.