Mr. Nice Guy (1997)

Along with "Who Am I?" from 1998, Mr. Nice Guy, directed by Sammo Hung, may herald the end of Chan's run of assured good times. The direct-through line from "Police Story 4: First Strike" (1996) is visible in the Australian locales and English-language script, and it was originally meant as the fifth "Police Story." Chan plays a star chef who becomes embroiled in mob machinations after the crooks assume he has evidence of their wrongdoing in his grasp. They pursue the chef and his associates, and Chan prepares a supper for them.

Some may question my sincerity because of the inclusion of "Who Am I?" but it's a fun mix of casual thrills, hilarity, and the occasional mean-spirited villain. Richard Norton portrays the villain, and he's both a brilliant fighter and a magnificent ham of an actor, having previously co-starred with Chan in the manga-inspired "City Hunter" (1993). Everything builds to an explosive conclusion, although there are some exhilarating setpieces along the way, including a wild construction site skirmish.