The bonkers concept essentially sees Jet Li trying to kill all the other Jet Li's across various dimensions, so that he can absorb their strength and become the most powerful Jet Li in the Universe! As his evil bastard alter ago, Gabriel Yulaw, he attempts a spot of interdimensional homicide, but just as Yulaw (Jet Li) gets stronger with each assassination, so too does good guy cop Gabe Law (Jet Li). As the number of interdimensional Jet Li's dwindle, it falls to Gabe and a pair of agents from a parallel universe police force called the Multiverse Authority (MVA) to stop him.
Generally you go into a Jet Li movie wanting to see Jet Li hand some bad guys their ass, but in The One Jet Li hands himself his own ass! Through a variety of gravity defying action scenes and super pumped fisticuffs, The One's effects have held up well. The wire work fight scenes are convincing as Gabe battles both himself and battalions of cops, and there is an awesome set piece where a powered-up Yulaw attacks a motorcycle plod with a vehicle in each hand!
The One also has a pretty great cast going for it. Veteran character actor Delroy Lindo provides the acting chops, as World-weary MVA Agent Harry Roedecker. Dean Norris from Breaking Bad also features; and it has an early appearance by Jason Statham who stomps around with another dicey accent, but gives the film cred by playing it totally straight and taking the material seriously. In fact, Crank aside, this might very well be The Stath's finest hour, despite the fact he doesn't really get to show off his fighting prowess.
Director James Wong and writer Glen Morgan have a notable back catalogue in the form of the first, surprisingly enjoyable, Final Destination movie, alongside consistent work on both Millennium and The X Files. I doubt there are that many folk who are enamoured enough with this movie to sit down with the director’s commentary on, but let the record show I am that person. In an enlightening talk track we learn that one of the characters in the hospital morgue scene is played by none other than Mark Borchardt from the incredible against-the-odds movie making documentary American Movie. We’re then hit with the revelation that Jonathan Ke Quan aka Short Round from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Data from The Goonies, assisted on the fight choreography! Much is made of the fact the production was hit with budget constraints and a studio desperate for a PG13 rating, resulting in the elimination of a spectacular souped-up car chase, and a planned Statham versus Li dust up. We are therefore left to only imagine the lofty heights The One might have soared to, were its wings not clipped by a reduced budget and a concession to tone down the violence.
Critics have accused The One of being too similar to Highlander, but ultimately that's a little lazy and unfair. That assertion overlooks one crucial fact... Highlander is cack. If there are a couple of negatives it's that the excellent Carla Gugino is wasted in a generic-wife role, and I could have done without the Nu Metal on the soundtrack.
Otherwise, there is plenty of fun to be had with The One. It does everything you want it to, and it’s just a tall, frosty glass of enjoyment.
IMDB: The One
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