Even in just its opening scene the movie demonstrates absolute forthrightness and disregard for authenticity. Patrick Chi-Yin Kwok's score is sometimes cheekily enjoyable with its extra flair for drama - though the profuse repetition of one notable theme is deeply grating. Johnny Koo's cinematography is serviceable yet unmistakably reflects the low budget of the production, but the very attachment of Godfrey Ho's name to the title pretty much says it all: he is known for nothing if not turning out a high number films quickly and cheaply, with a general passe attitude toward mindfulness. This isn't to say Ho's movies are abjectly bad, as so long as one can get on board with the unflinching ham-handedness and carefree (or is that careless?) spirit they possess, they can be pretty fun. Where Ho emphasizes martial arts action, it is done well and is surely his core strength. Unfortunately, 'Manhattan chase' is not an action-thriller that particularly makes use of such disciplines, and the dregs we're left with are often a struggle to abide.
What fight scenes we do get mostly look good, owing to the experience of Ho as a director and cast member Cynthia Rothrock. Some, though, are flavored with embellishments so tawdry as to be garish, and some seem to have a certain loose sloppiness to them, as though this film were especially rushed. More regrettable still is that the basic premise, portending crime drama and action thrills, belies a course of events that tends far more toward the former than the latter. The movie is awash in scenes of family drama that are pointedly accentuated and which distract from other elements in the narrative. Yet I'm only just scratching the surface, as there's a bewildering lack of genuineness in the writing - dialogue, scene writing, narrative, or characters. This screenplay would seem to be the only credit for Lisa Cory, and if it's representative of her capabilities, sadly I can't say I'm surprised it stands alone. 'Manhattan chase' really does come across as a gauche, halfhearted effort at the genres it tries to play in, as though everyone involved were phoning in their contributions for an easy paycheck.
Rest assured, that "phoniness" certainly applies to the acting; it broadly seems like no real effort was made to attain believable, realistic emotions, body language, or delivery. One could be forgiven for thinking that some cast members were literally just pulled off the street for a few days of work. This wouldn't be so critical a flaw if the feature devoted more time and attention to action sequences, but the quieter moments fill such a substantial portion of the runtime that the weak performances are glaring. Rothrock, known for her martial arts films, only has a small supporting part and a paucity of time on screen. Furthermore, at large the same lackadaisical indifference seems to apply to most aspects of the production, as filming locations, set decoration, and wardrobe, for example, would appear to have been provided by the cast themselves. Editing and sequencing is shoddy, sound design is thin, and the rudimentary timing of some moments is questionable.
Against all odds, there are glimmers of wit or cleverness in the writing at scattered, irregular intervals. The action sequences serve up a measure of excitement. There are good ideas here. But one hardly needs to be a master filmmaker to firmly grasp that the story 'Manhattan Chase' wants to tell requires a baseline level of care for one's own work, the capability and/or willingness to see it through - and nuance. Cory's writing required significant revisions, and one can only guess that Ho was less than enthused about this specific project. That lack of enthusiasm is passed on to the cast, and to the viewer. Even at Ho's best his approach to film-making would not have served the concept very well, and this isn't his best.
Disappointing an experience as 'Manhattan chase' is, it's not completely rotten. I see the value it does bear, and the potential that simply was not realized. It's not the worst movie I've ever seen. Frustratingly, however, that's not necessarily saying much. No matter what it was that drew your attention to this title, there are better ways to spend your time, and that includes other movies made by Godfrey Ho or starring Cynthia Rothrock. There's certainly no need to go out of your way for it, and even if you happen to come across it, it's probably best saved for a very rainy day, if at all.