Jackie Chan is an acquired taste, and in today’s big-budget world where rampaging CG takes the forefront of every action movie, his unique stunt work leaves people a little dry.

“The Medallion” had more CG than any other Chan outing, as well as noticeable wire work. Notwithstanding, the story found these elements necessary.

The movie’s plot is as follows: A medallion grants immortality and super strength, but only when both halves are united. The child, (“The Chosen One”) gives half to Eddie Yang (Chan) in hopes to pursue The Chosen One’s captors.

What follows is a long, light-hearted chase around several scenic locales. Comic relief comes in the form of the poor man’s “Mr. Bean,” the British physical comedian Lee Evans, who is Eddie’s partner, Arthur Watson. His irreverent brand of body contortion worked astonishingly well paired with Chan’s fluid, hypnotically choreographed fight scenes.

Perhaps the finest aspect of this film is the score. I remember, as a kid watching “Looney Tunes” and the wonderful spin-off “Tiny Tunes,” where the music was reactive of the action on screen. “The Medallion” had just that type of score. Every character had a theme, like a tuba rumbling when the portly head of Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) was on screen, to the “Matrix”-esque high strings when the medallion was in use.

My only complaint about this movie was a five-minute scene trying to explain an average “Three’s Company” scenario. You know, the usual predicament where the dialogue sounds sexual, but in actuality, is just everyday talking.

To my surprise, though, there wasn’t a common damsel in distress; everyone got to kick a little butt, even Watson’s librarian wife. The fight scenes, staged on top of cargo boats and inside of Watson’s house, shared similar energy. Guns were shown as clunky, useless misfiring toys. In fact, Chan worked skillfully unloading each weapon in his ballet of butt kicking.

This movie was kind-spirited, lighthearted and always fast-paced and funny. I understand the martial arts/comic duo has been done before, and arguably better, but this was kinder. “The Medallion” has more heart. The bad guys weren’t typical action-movie villains. In fact, some may classify them as bumbling idiots. Medallion ranked quite high on the charm list. The overall debonairness made it more suitable for children than Chan’s earlier outings.

In all honesty, paying for two tickets was a letdown. Sure, this movie was loads of fun and everyone in the audience seemed to enjoy themselves. I just wasn’t happy spending normal ticket fare on an action movie that lacked a single highway chase scene.

This may have been the largest budget for a Jackie Chan movie, but it fell far short of par for this summer’s blockbusters. I enjoyed watching this movie – it’s well worth the laughs; I don’t know about $6.50.