These shifts in tone could have been interesting if deliberately used to throw us off balance, but Sheng seems to be hoping we won't notice anything amiss.

With little to grab onto-and despite all that it offers-Railroad Tigers is far slower than a goofy action movie that mostly takes place on a locomotive should ever be.

Beyond Mr. Chan's deft work here, "Railroad Tigers," directed by Ding Sheng, is kind of a mess.

Jackie Chan stars as the Robin Hood-like leader of a merry band of rebel rail workers in this blockbusting period caper.