Rush Hour – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Rush Hour

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2016

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A critically-panned 2016 TV reboot that took the Rush Hour movies and somehow made them less fun—cancelled after one season for good reason.

27%

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Rush Hour

show

TV-14, 2016

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A critically-panned 2016 TV reboot that took the Rush Hour movies and somehow made them less fun—cancelled after one season for good reason.

27%

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: this show is a miss. The Rush Hour movies worked because of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker's chemistry and comedic timing. This 2016 TV reboot tried to capture that magic and failed spectacularly—27% on Rotten Tomatoes tells you everything you need to know.

The show was cancelled after one season, which is Hollywood's way of saying 'we tried, it didn't work, let's move on.' While the premise of an LAPD cop partnering with a Hong Kong detective could theoretically offer interesting cultural perspectives, the execution apparently relied on tired stereotypes and formulaic plots.

For teens 14+ who are into action-comedies, there are dozens of better options. This isn't offensive or harmful, it's just... not good. The kind of show you'd watch if it was the only thing on during a hotel stay in 2016. Skip it and watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine or the original Rush Hour movies instead.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media rates this for 14+, which seems right for the action violence and mature themes. That said, this is realistically only for teens who are desperate for content or nostalgic parents who remember the movies fondly—and even then, you're probably better off just rewatching the original films.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

As a buddy-cop action comedy, the show likely features the classic odd-couple dynamic with some positive partnership themes, but the genre typically includes violence, confrontational behavior, and potentially stereotypical characterizations. Without specific content details, the moderate ratings suggest it doesn't excel at modeling particularly healthy dynamics or cooperation beyond the surface-level 'opposites become friends' trope.

Imaginative

This is a TV adaptation of a film franchise following a well-worn buddy-cop formula. The premise of pairing an LAPD detective with a Hong Kong detective is the franchise's core gimmick, but there's little evidence of fresh creative vision. The poor critical reception (27% RT critics, 46 Metacritic) suggests the show failed to bring anything new or imaginative to an already tired concept. It's paint-by-numbers action-comedy without creative spark.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 14, suggesting moderate action violence, some language, and potentially mature themes typical of cop shows. As a network action-comedy, it likely avoids graphic content but includes gunplay, physical confrontations, and crime scenarios. The 'safe' bar for a 14+ show is different than for younger content—teens can handle this material, but it's not appropriate for younger viewers who might stumble upon it.

Enriching

The poor critical reception across the board suggests this show doesn't offer much beyond surface-level entertainment. While buddy-cop shows can theoretically explore cultural differences and partnership, the low scores indicate this adaptation likely relies on stereotypes and formulaic plots rather than meaningful character development or insight. The 63% audience score vs 27% critic score gap suggests it's mildly entertaining but not substantive.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If your teen loved the original Rush Hour movies, they might enjoy seeing the franchise concept extended (though don't get your hopes up)
Buddy-cop dynamics can model partnership and working through differences, even when executed poorly
Light action-comedy format is easy background viewing that doesn't demand much attention

⚠

What to Watch For

Action violence typical of cop shows—gunfights, physical confrontations, crime scenarios
Likely relies on cultural stereotypes and formulaic humor that may feel dated or offensive
The show was cancelled after 13 episodes, so don't get invested—there's no resolution
With a 27% critic score, this is objectively not good television

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think this show got cancelled when the movies were so popular?"
"Do you think the way they portray the cultural differences between Carter and Lee feels respectful or stereotypical?"
"What makes a good partnership? Do these two actually seem like they'd work well together?"

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