Vanguard (2020)

Vanguard is the kind of globetrotting action romp that reminds you why Jackie Chan remains a one-man genre: he brings a lived-in warmth and physical wit that makes even the wildest scrapes feel inviting rather than empty noise. Director Stanley Tong stages the movie like a travelogue of large-scale mayhem—bright locations, big stunts, and set pieces that keep topping themselves with breezy confidence—so it plays less like grim crime thriller and more like escapist Saturday-night spectacle. The tone is punchy and playful, with enough comedy and camaraderie to keep the momentum light even when the stakes are high. It’s not the film to pick if you want tight realism or a meticulously plotted thriller, but if you’re on the fence and craving energetic, globe-hopping fun anchored by Chan’s effortless charisma, this one delivers.

Vanguard is clearly aiming for glossy, globe-trotting Jackie Chan escapism with big stunts, a slick security-team vibe, and a light comedic edge. The problem is the movie can’t decide what it wants to be—action thriller, crime caper, or broad comedy—so the tone lurches around and the plot often feels stitched together rather than driven. Dialogue lands clunky, the effects can look unfinished, and Chan himself is oddly underused, which is a dealbreaker if you came for his signature rhythm and creativity. If you’re happy to treat it as noisy, disposable background action with a few energetic set pieces and a likable team, you might get by; if you need coherent storytelling or peak Jackie, skip it.