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Speaking of unfair, I guess that’s not an entirely legitimate criticism. The story does develop, at least a little. And it does flow logically, for the most part. It’s just that the characters don’t. At the end of this adventure, none of the principals have grown or changed to any great degree and for some, this sort of static development may make the entire experience seem fruitless. I certainly can’t disagree with those who say that this film lacks depth. But I would also suggest that if you can let the logical side of your head receive the characters for their inherent goodness or badness, you can tolerate them. And if you can allow the rest of your mind to just absorb the irreverent fun, you really shouldn't be able to avoid enjoying this film. It’s really just a good old fashioned chop-socky romp, and personally I don’t have a problem with this. This is one of my favorite films of all time, and it isn’t because it makes sense. But what if you just can’t accept all that? Do the characters work on any level? The answer more or less, is yes.

Kurt Russell’s interpretation of Jack Burton is famously one part John Wayne, one part Indiana Jones, and one part Red State stumblebum. He’s almost the definitive Ugly American, stumped by the slightest sign of cultural contrast and convinced that he has all the answers, simply by virtue of being awake. Despite this unqualified bravado, Burton has a heart of gold and truly wants to be a hero - he just has no idea how to do it. Kim Cattrall is a truly terrible actress, and her over the top hysterics come close to derailing the film more than once. Up to this point she was best known as the slutty gym teacher in Porky’s, so I suppose it’s possible she tried a little too hard to stand out. But this really isn’t the kind of film where that matters and in a way it works, because Gracie Law isn’t any better at what she does than Cattrall is. And if you think that’s mean, I can tell you that in comparison to the things I’ve said about Katherine Heigl this qualifies as high praise.

Back to the point - Russell’s macho posturing is pitch perfect, and Cattrall’s natural incompetence happens to suit Gracie just fine. Jack Burton is an arrogant loudmouth who thinks he’s an expert on everything. Gracie obviously got her law degree out of a Cracker Jack box. Lack of dimension aside, both manage to scrape up enough brain cells to save the universe AND give us a few laughs along the way. The supporting cast is mainly there to keep the leads from shooting themselves in the foot. The chaotic story unfolding around them is loud, colorful and fully aware of its own absurdity. So at the end of the day, the film’s complete lack of character development has to be weighed against whether or not the story accomplished what it set out to do. It’s as easy to have fun with Big Trouble in Little China as it is to enjoy eating ice cream so in my opinion, mission accomplished. Pour a soda, make some popcorn, turn off your brain and laugh a little. It won’t hurt, I promise.

So where does this leave Kurt Russell? Does he belong up there on the mountain? Well, I’ve always felt that Jack Burton was his finest moment. Both men are just average guys who may not be the best at what they do, but they always seem to be in the right place at the right time and it’s hard not to love them for it. Kurt Russell may not be saving the universe, and he’s certainly not Lee Marvin or Clint Eastwood. But if Bruce Willis can be up there (he is), why not Kurt Russell? For four decades he’s put together a solid body of work and along the way he’s created a handful of genuinely iconic action heroes – one of whom is standing next to my monitor as I write this. I can’t imagine film without him and for that; he shall forever be immortalized in the granite hills of South Dakota. Surprised? Don’t be. As Jack Burton himself would say, it’s all in the reflexes.

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