The Medallion
TriStar Pictures | Release Date: August 22, 2003 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
38
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
14
Negative:
12
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
The best of Jackie Chan's American movies, a pleasant little action comedy that makes one wonder how other filmmakers could ever get it wrong. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
A disposable entertainment, redeemed by silliness, exaggeration, and Chan's skill and charm. I would not want to see it twice, but I liked seeing it once. Read full review
63
USA TodayStaff [Not Credited]
Longer on action than comedy. But with Chan's affable charm and stunning leaps, kicks and jumps, it's a good-natured and amusing spectacle. Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerSteven Rea
Chan's signature mix of screwball comedy and gymnastic derring-do landed him his own cartoon series a few years back, and The Medallion -- with its bumbling spies and bounding star -- is about as cartoonish as live action gets. Read full review
60
The New York TimesDave Kehr
As soon as the medallion appears, so do the digital maneuverings -- speeded-up movement, composite images, objects and people morphing into supernatural thingamajigs -- that undercut the genuine thrills of the genuine action. Read full review
60
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
Mr. Chan proves yet again that he has the virtuosic grace -- and goofiness -- of any of the great clowns of the silent era, and a complete refusal to abide by the laws of gravity. Do let us be clear, however, that the movie's plot, minus a few roundhouse kicks, is straight out of the Scooby-Doo playbook.
60
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
Chan defies time and gravity with remarkable energy, ease and resourcefulness, not to mention charm and humor. He even gets away with a nude scene, not bad for man who turns 50 in April. Read full review
50
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
Since the stunts are sub-par and feature considerable computer help, the movie gives the impression that it's trying too hard to be campy and silly. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
Though haphazardly put together, The Medallion stays fairly entertaining until it kills Chan off and resurrects him as an immortal being. Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyScott Foundas
While the premise does lead to a few moments of inspired physical comedy -- the movie repeatedly falls back on poorly staged, choppily edited fight scenes between Chan and a gloomy, power-mad villain. Read full review
50
Dallas ObserverGregory Weinkauf
It's a likable enough smorgasbord, from its trendy Irish locations to Andy Summers turning in a Beatles cover to occasional giggles and gasps. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneRobert K. Elder
A magic-meets-macho cop movie that's more gimmick than actual movie. Read full review
42
Portland OregonianKim Morgan
Not that Chan isn't lovable; he is. But he's making it harder to feel warm and fuzzy about him with films like The Medallion. It's OK to age, but Chan needs to broaden his horizons. He is a trained singer. Where's that musical he's always dreamed of making? Read full review
42
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
So full of limp slapstick silliness and stock characters that it's hard to stay awake through it. Read full review
40
SalonCharles Taylor
There are five writers credited with the script for The Medallion, and between them they don't come up with a single original or amusing or clever idea. Read full review
40
TV Guide MagazineSabrina Rojas Weiss
Once the action degenerates, the film relies on Chan's charming smile and Evans's mediocre slapstick for relief, making one wish the medallion's special powers could transport them into whole other story. Read full review
40
Washington PostMatt Bonesteel
Chan's normally homegrown stuntwork is replaced by a lot of wire fighting and special effects, and this makes one think that the days of "Drunken Master" are far behind him. Read full review
40
Village VoiceBen Kenigsberg
This outing, Jackie doesn't bring much humor or personality to his role, which is essentially the same one he played in the Rush Hour movies. Read full review
38
Miami HeraldCharles Savage
The formulaic movie would be forgettable but inoffensive if it were anyone else posing for blue screen CGI effects. Read full review
38
New York PostLou Lumenick
Given the complete lack of chemistry between Chan and Forlani, their rather awkward lip-lock isn't worth $10 to see. Sadly, neither is anything else here. Read full review
38
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
As for the old and graceful Jackie, he's completely missing in action, his supple talents sacrificed on the high altar of movie technology -- that frenetic place where superheroes are a colossal bore and real ones are sadly impotent. Read full review
38
Baltimore SunRoger Moore
The supernatural stuff is ho-hum, the dubbing is sloppy and the action will only make you pine for the younger, hungrier and more injury-prone Jackie. Read full review
33
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
The Medallion makes you long for Tucker -- and for Jackie Chan to fly without digital wings. Read full review
30
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
So cheesy and cheap that it almost attains high camp. Read full review
30
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
This is a complete mess, making up its story logic as it goes along, though in contrast to the sluggish "Shanghai Knights" its chief problem is having too many ideas instead of too few. Read full review
30
VarietyDennis Harvey
At times plays as if it were aimed at children, but more often simply seems to be aiming blind at whatever genre cliche the five credited writers fix upon in any given scene. Read full review
25
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
Moves from cheekiness to ineptitude, often in a single take. Read full review
25
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
Evans fumbles through painfully extended homophobic jokes, weak double entendres and agonizingly contorted double-takes. Read full review
25
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
It's the cheapest looking, least exciting, least funny Chan project I've ever seen. Read full review
0
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
One of the Peking Opera-trained superstar's most mediocre films, rivaling last year’s God-awful "The Tuxedo" for sheer messy filmmaking and brazen acts of tedium... Abysmal. Read full review
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