Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		2.5

Ride On Blu-ray Movie Review

Where's Mr. Ed when you really need him?

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 23, 2023

There are some kind of curious if admittedly "meta" parallels between this film and a film I just reviewed, The Iron-Fisted Monk, including the fact that as commentator Frank Djeng gets into in his commentary for the Sammo Hung film, many consider Jackie Chan to have "founded" the "comedy martial arts" subgenre with Drunken Master*, when the Hung film actually preceded that Jackie Chan film by quite a while. More importantly perhaps given this film's conceit of Chan playing an aging stuntman, in interviews included on The Iron-Fisted Monk Hung reveals how he felt his easiest entry into the film industry was as a stuntman, something that morphed into him becoming a celebrated fight choreographer perhaps even before his own on screen star began to rise and he was finally granted the opportunity to direct. All of this said, and perhaps surprisingly given the fact that Jackie Chan's "co-star" in this film is a horse, Ride On is almost more of a (no horse rendering pun intended) soap opera than a comedy.

*Note: The link points to a double feature of Chan movies from Twilight Time.

Ride On should probably be given some kudos for its somewhat offbeat tale, which in a way posits aging stuntman Lao Luo (Jackie Chan) as the crew equivalent of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, i.e., a largely forgotten vestige of a bygone era. Lao has had a long standing "relationship" with his beloved horse Red Hare, a deformed horse that Lao fostered and used in any number of films, though those opportunities have long since dried up. Adding to the drama is some family dysfunction involving Lao and his estranged daughter Xiao Bao (Liu Haocun). Suffice it to say that this whole tale (tail?) revolves around ostensible perils to Red Hare, which considering what happens and the film's emphasis on some of the (human) interpersonal relationships, might be termed a "shaggy horse story".

Chan does what he can with a severely underwritten role, adding a bit of unexpected gravitas to what is ultimately a kind of silly narrative that resorts to "old school" Chan shenanigans when it isn't trying to tug vigorously at the heartstrings. It probably goes without saying that any perceived threat to Red Hare and/or Lao is short lived. And that's just one of several issues confronting this tale, which seems to want to explore ideas of aging and "usefulness" (for want of a better term), but which is probably inherently hampered by the whole "stunt horse" aspect, which almost unavoidably adds a somewhat whimsical and humorous side to things.

Ride On Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ride On is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Well Go USA with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. I haven't been able to track down any authoritative information on the shoot, but this is a rather sharp and beautifully detailed digital capture that I wouldn't be surprised to find out had a 4K DI. Fine detail on any number of aspects ranging from Red Hare bristly coat to some of the supposed historic costumes in some of the film set material provide ample opportunities for really precise renderings of textures. The palette looks natural and is very nicely suffused, without a reliance on overt grading. There are some passing softer moments, including some of what look to me like CGI, though perhaps mixed with some practical effects, as in some of the ostensible stunt work performed by either Red Hare or Lao or both in tandem.

Ride On Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ride On features nicely immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks in either Mandarin or English. I toggled between the two and really didn't notice any substantial differences in mix or amplitude other than the voice work. There's good engagement of the side and rear channels throughout many of the action elements, as should be expected, but even some of the quieter outdoor material offers some nicely placed discretely channeled ambient environmental effects. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Per Well Go USA's standard operating procedure, Dolby Digital 2.0 tracks in both languages are also offered. Optional English and Mandarin subtitles are available.

Ride On Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Behind the Scenes (HD; 8:49) offers some fun candid footage along with some interviews. Subtitled in English.


• On My Horse (HD; 2:55) once again features some interviews with the likes of Jackie Chan and Larry Yang discussing the challenges of working with a horse. Subtitled in English.


• Trailer (HD; 1:27)

Note: As tends to be the case with Well Go USA Blu-ray releases, the disc has been authored so that supplements follow one another automatically (so that clicking on Behind the Scenes is essentially a Play All button. The disc is also authored to automatically move on to trailers for other Well Go USA releases after the Trailer for this film plays. Those trailers for other Well Go USA releases also play automatically at disc boot up.

Packaging features a slipcover.

Ride On Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jackie Chan very much looks his age in this film, which I actually think is a good thing, and the film itself seems to recognize that accretion of years and wrinkles, without ever having the ultimate courage to "go there" in terms of offering a dour assessment for what someone who has toiled on the crew of innumerable films may face as he (or she) gets on in years. Instead, the film tries to intersperse slapstick laden moments with the horse with more supposedly emotional scenes still involving the horse, but also offering friction between father and daughter. Chan fans may want to check this out, whatever its deficits, and for anyone considering making a purchase, this Blu-ray offers secure technical merits and some minimal but enjoyable supplements.