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'Unleashed': Puppy love, flying kicks are an awkward mix

Permeated with dark shadows that recall "Frankenstein" and "The Elephant Man," "Unleashed" features a quite clever premise before detouring into a plot twist that should've been muzzled.

Acrobatic Chinese martial artist Jet Li is Danny the Dog — a caged human animal trained to attack whenever his collar is removed. Since childhood, Danny has been the Pavlovian "pet" of the man he calls Uncle Bart, a nasty Scottish loan shark played by Bob Hoskins.

Rogue Pictures 'Unleashed' C+ The verdict: Too much schmaltz has this action pic barking up the wrong tree. Director: Louis Leterrier Starring: Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins, Kerry Condon, Vincent Regan Run time: 103 minutes Release date: May 13, 2005 Rating: R for strong violent content, language and some sexuality/nudity. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate "Unleashed"   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

With a pedigreed performance in what is otherwise a mongrel of a movie, Hoskins inhabits his familiar limey thug role with a scowling intensity and a spot-on sense of black humor. And when Li is doing his thing in a furious blur of flying feet and fists — choreographed by Yuen Wo-Ping ("The Matrix," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") and directed by Louis Leterrier ("The Transporter") — there's a whole lot of top-notch, Hong Hong-style action.

But then screenwriters Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, who previously collaborated on "Kiss of the Dragon" and "The Transporter," take the story in a strangely schmaltzy direction.

Enter the anti-dragon, Sam (Morgan Freeman), an eccentric blind piano tuner from New York City living in Glasgow with his teenage stepdaughter, Victoria (Kerry Condon), a music conservatory student. When Danny escapes from Uncle Bart after a mob hit, kindhearted Sam takes him in, much like a stray dog. And soon, goofy-toothy Victoria is introducing puppy-eyed Danny to the sweet adolescent pleasures of vanilla ice cream and sucking face with a girly with braces.

Fortunately, that icky interlude gives way to more fighting, as Danny is forced back into action. And Li gets to display his real dramatic skills in a series of set pieces and a scary arena battle where he takes on a snarling pack of armored gladiators. By that time, though, the sappy factor has so enervated this movie that all the kung fu kicking comes off as oddly beside the point.