“Cradle 2 the Grave” is banking on several factors to make its Warner Brothers its money back and none of them have anything to do with making a good film. It’s all about spending just enough money (a rather small $25 million) to get the maximum number of young men to plop their money down. Then hopefully bring them back for a sequel.
How do they do that? Do a low rent “Rush Hour” with two actors with the right following but not a big price tag. “Cradle” is well positioned in its market segment. They call it: “Hip hop kung fu.” Rapper/actor DMX, born Earl Simmons in 1970, is supposed to attract the hip hoppers, while action star Jet Li brings in the martial art fans.
The barely watchable “Romeo Must Die” (2000) brought them together for the first time. But apparently they weren’t bad enough in that movie. Maybe Andrzej Bartkowiak, director of both films, wanted to give them each a chance to redeem themselves. Or maybe he is just a sadist who likes to make audiences suffer through some of the worst acting on the big screen.
Don’t get me wrong, DMX, a hugely successful east coast rapper turned actor, is not without appeal. He busts a couple of good facial expressions. But his tuff isn’t tuff enough and his sweet daddy act is so over the top that most of the audience groaned when his character, Fait, recites a saccharine nighttime prayer — not once but twice.
No one could accuse Jet Li of acting either. Knowing his weaknesses (I imagine) Li tries to keep the focus off his stony face and onto his fast flying hands and feet. That tactic works to a certain extent and the “highlights” of this lowlife film are the stunts and fights.
There are some good stunts — a fast ride on the top of a subway train, a drop down a building from balcony to balcony, and the piece d’ resistance — an all terrain vehicle being chased by first the cops and then a guy on a motocross bike. When the stunt designers exhausted all the possible highlights of a street chase, they took it indoors, and then to the rooftops. Now you don’t see that every day.
I’m no judge of marital art technique but Jet Li’s fights are impressive, especially the one where he takes on a whole cadre of illegal ring fighters. The best move of the film however belongs to Gabrielle Union (“Bring It On”) as she takes out baddie Kelly Hu (“The Scorpion King”).
Other competent supporting actors who help smooth over the two stars rough edges join Union and Hu. Most enjoyable is Anthony Anderson (“Barbershop”). He’s a great young talent, hopefully on the rise. Mark Dacascos (“Brotherhood of the Wolf”) looks like he may have potential for better roles. Even the one note Tom Arnold, who loves to play “goofy friend” added some much needed charm to this film.
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