In the 1998 film "Rush Hour," Jackie Chan plays Hong Kong Chief Inspector Lee.
Lee is a highly skilled martial artist and police officer who travels to Los Angeles after the kidnapping of Soo Yung, the daughter of Chinese consul Solon Han. Because American authorities worry that Lee's involvement could complicate the investigation, Los Angeles detective James Carter is assigned to keep him away from the main case. The two eventually become partners.
Jackie Chan's performance combines action choreography, physical comedy, and Lee's limited comfort with American slang and customs. Chris Tucker plays Carter, creating the film's central contrast: Lee is quiet and disciplined, while Carter is talkative, impulsive, and eager to prove himself.
The wording sometimes causes confusion because the character is called Chief Inspector Lee in much of the film's description, while the opening Hong Kong sequence refers to Detective Inspector Lee. Both references identify Jackie Chan's character. Donnie Yen and Jet Li are also major martial arts stars, but neither plays Lee in "Rush Hour."