By Christian Sta. Maria
almost every scene in the thoroughly entertaining yet wildly racially insensitive comedy. It was a rollercoaster of a comedy and with every giggle came a little guilt and a lot of overthinking. Am I racist for laughing at its edgy humor? Is it insensitive to enjoy watching Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker poke fun at each other’s races? I would vacillate between guilt and enjoyment as I watched the movie and the only thought I had by the end was how Rush Hour would not be permissible in today’s social climate.
Yet, despite every edgy joke made throughout Rush Hour, the movie received audience acclaim and love from both communities because of its sheer humor. Every joke lands–it’s not overwhelmingly insensitive that it leaves a bitter taste in the audiences’ tongues, but not too lukewarm that the jokes lack comedic value. Rush Hour has just the perfect amount of offensive humor that keeps us laughing. However, a bigger impact from the Rush Hour movies is its ability to bond two marginalized communities together, rather than causing a steeper divide between them. Because Chan and Tucker were equally racist to one another, their jokes felt justified. This strategic solidarity makes Rush Hour more than just a comedy movie but rather a hallmark of Black and Asian camaraderie.
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