“Filming in America feels like you’re taking a vacation.” -Jay Chou
ISSUE: Winter 2010
DEPT: Personalities
STORY: Janice Jann
National Hero
Before Rain and Wang Lee Hom, there was Jay Chou, the original Asian pop heartthrob. Since 2000, when the Taiwanese native came out with his debut album, Jay, the now-31-year-old has sold more than 28 million albums worldwide and racked up more than 350 singer, singer-songwriter, and producer awards in Asia. He’s bringing that star appeal to the silver screen this January in the remake of The Green Hornet, starring alongside Seth Rogen and Cameron Diaz. Marking his debut to the American market, Chou plays the title character’s partner, Kato, a
role originated by none other than Bruce Lee.
It’s been a while since a movie has really tickled my fancy but when I walked out of a sneak peek of The Green Hornet, I could not wait to tell all my friends to get the car ready for their next movie night.
Starring Seth Rogen and Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou, The Green Hornet– not to be confused with that other Green movie also coming out this year with sexyman Ryan Reynolds — tells of a spoiled son of a media tycoon who decides to fight crime by pretending to be bad guys. Chou is his sidekick-who-really-does-all-the-work, Kato.
Directed by Michael Gondry (after HK superstar Stephen Chow left the job) and co-written by Rogen, I was surprised by how good the film was. The lines were funny but sweet, the action left me at the edge of my seat and the casting was excellent, albeit unexpected. Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) killed it (pun, har har) as the villain and Rogen had you rooting for his bratty character.
Chou as Kato winning the heart of Cameron Diaz' character, Lenore
But I was most impressed by Jay Chou’s Kato — a fully fleshed-out Asian character who was mistaken as the sidekick but was the real hero of the show. The Green Hornet showed off Chou’s singing, lady-wooing, comedic and ass-kicking skills. That’s a lot of skills! I didn’t even care that I could hardly understand Chou’s English half the time. (This is Chou’s American film debut so we forgive him.)
The reviews are also rolling in and they’re really good!
But you don’t have to believe our critiques of the film. Let’s have some of the stars convince you.
The Green Hornet Hollywood premiere will be streaming live tonight at 9:30PM EST/6:30 pm PST and you can catch it right on Audrey’s website. Check back then. Rogen, Chou, Cameron Diaz, Michel Gondry, Jonah Hill, Judd Apatow, Stephen Lang, Anna Faris and Tom Green are just some of the stars slated to appear on the red carpet.
The Green Hornet will be released in theaters nationwide on January 14, 2011. Jay Chou is also part of Audrey’s Winter Personalities. Purchase issue here.
