I expected much more from this would-be nail biter about cops and corruption in Manhattan's Chinatown. After all, it stars Mark Wahlberg (Boogie Nights) and Chow Yun-Fat (Hard Boiled), as well as the considerable directing talent of James Foley (Glengarry Glen Ross, Fear). However, The Corruptor surprisingly falls flat (aside from a slam-bang car chase in the middle).

Yun-Fat and Wahlberg play new partners who find themselves at war with the Chinese mafia. While battling the enemy, they must learn to trust each other. The film offers all of the standard cliches of the Buddy Cop picture (Lethal Weapon)--minus the chemistry. Wahlberg is quite effective as an eager officer out to dazzle his squad. Yun-Fat, who struggles with the English accent, is watchable--but has yet to come near the types of roles that were his bread and butter in Hong Kong.

Ultimately, it doesn't seem like Foley's heart is in the action genre. Many of The Corruptor's key action scenes are very clumsily shot--making it hard to hold anyone's interest. For Yun-Fat, it is a considerable step up from last years ridiculous The Replacement Killers, but still far from his potential. However, for Wahlberg and Foley it is a gigantic step down.