Jackie Chan's americanization

I argue that since Jackie Chan broke into America and when he shares action scenes with American actors, his screen persona is greatly diminished. In a large percent of his film, Jackie Chan plays Jackie Chan; meaning that he is essentially playing himself in his movies; the everyday man, the reluctant hero.

When he made his American film, his screen persona didn't change, but the action did. In his Asian films, Chan does his own, CGI free stunts. But in America, especially when sharing the action, his action is persona is reduced. For example; in Rush Hour 2 when Carter and Lee jump out of the casino as it explodes, they take of their coats and wrap it around a a cable and they manage to slide to safety. If this scene was filmed in Hong Kong, Chan would obviously do the stunt for real as this is what we have come to expect. But since it was made in America, insurance purposes forbid Chan from doing dangerous stunts. The scene also has Chris Tucker doing the same stunt as Chan, and since Tucker isn't renowned for doing his own stunts, Chan has to go down to his level to make the scene work.

This process happens in nearly every American film where Jackie Chan has a partner. Another example can be found in Shanghai Noon, in the scene where Jackie Chan's character stops a train robbery committed by Owen Wilson. Some of the logs on the train get loose with Chan and Wilson standing on them, thus they frantically try to stay on as they tumble of the train. We believe that Jackie is doing this stunt himself, but not Wilson, therefore the impact of the stunt is reduced by the fact that a character that is being played by an actor that doesn't do dangerous stunts, is doing the same stunt with an actor who does.