Having struck gold with the mongrel genre sci-fi kung-fu in The Matrix it is no surprise to find that producer Joel Silver has gone back to the lab to see what other hybrids might work. Unfortunately after ignoring such great ideas as sci-fi ballet (too Kubrick), film-noir musical (too Lars Von Trier) and slasher-romance (too Brett Easton Ellis) in Cradle 2 The Grave we see the introduction of hip-hop chop-socky. It may not be original, it may not be too clever, but boy does is pander to some not too niche markets.
Cradle 2 The Grave finds bling-bling thief DMX having to join forces with kung-fu cop Jet Li after a heist of black diamonds leaves a child kidnapped and the world in peril. Just in case this plot isn't bombastic enough for your taste it also turns out the black diamonds are in fact ultra powerful nuclear weapons that are smaller that either of our protagonists names, which is very small indeed. Before long there are quad bike chases and roundhouse kicks a-plenty, all to the sounds of Now That's What I Call Hard Hitting But Non-Threatening To White Audiences Hip Hop 7.
The two leads act as effective safety nets for each other. DMX oozes street-style and charisma but lacks any sort of physical prowess whilst Jet Li has some much kung-fu ability stuffed into his frame that god couldn't find space for a personality. To distract from such lop-sided leads we have the presence of not one but two comedy sidekicks and large dollops of Joel Silver's slick production grease.
Whilst Cradle 2 The Grave is no more than the sum of it's parts and every bit as contrived as it's title it is still hard to actively dislike. By playing to the complimentary strengths of it's varied there is enough here to keep most viewers entertained. A satisfying stop gap to help fill the wait before the Matrix sequels arrive.