2007: Year of the 'Rush Hour 3'

There is hope for the future. Why? Because it’s unlikely that the world will end before the long-delayed debut of <a href=”http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117942515?categoryid=13&cs=1
“>Rush Hour 3.

Think about it: Why would the universe go to so much trouble to reunite Chris Tucker (at $20 million against 20 percent of the gross), Jackie Chan ($15 million against 15 percent, plus Hong Kong distribution rights) and Brett Ratner (untold gazillions against, I dunno, 15 percent of a Halle Berry lap dance?) if it planned to snuff out human life before summer of 2007? The universe wouldn’t do something like that.

Pardon the cosmic scale of this entry, but goodness knows the stakes are nothing less than galactic, right? I mean, you’re all just dying for another Rush Hour movie? Yes?

Admittedly, I enjoyed Rush Hour. I enjoyed Rush Hour 2 even more. I think racial stereotypes have rarely been put to such effective comic use. I was, perhaps, troubled by my own laughter. Quoth New Line production chief Toby Emmerich: “The first two Rush Hour films have become pop-culture classics.” Who can disagree? And what is a “pop-culture classic” anyway? These questions are koans. Do not attempt to answer them, grasshopper, or your head will explode.

Answer this instead: Does this news evoke excitement? Yawns? Letters to the editor? Perusals of your pocket Nostradamus?