Jack of All Trades

Originally published March 17, 2000

Take classic swashbuckling movies like Robin Hood, Captain Blood, and The Princess Bride. Throw in a dash of steam-tech, a la Brisco County Jr.. Mix with a liberal helping of James Bond sensibility. Pour over the exotic locales of New Zealand. Serve in half-hour portions.

This is the recipe for the Renaissance Pictures series Jack of all Trades. It premiered the same week as Cleopatra 2525, and in most markets Jack aired concurrently with Xena: Warrior Princess.

Fan-favorite Bruce Campbell (Autolycus on both Hercules and Xena) plays Jack Stiles, an American secret agent assigned to the island of Palau Palau in 1801. He is partnered with the beautiful and intelligent English agent Emilia Rothschild, played by Angela Dotchin (who has also appeared in episodes of Hercules and Xena). Together they work to thwart Emperor Napoleon's plans for world domination.

"Wait a minute," I hear you asking. "The historical accuracy of your description is all wrong. The United States was allied with France, not England. And, what possible part could Palau Palau play in this? It's a tiny island in the Pacific. I don't buy it."

My response to that comment? "Since when have you expected historical accuracy from Renaissance Pictures?"

Like the other shows from this company, Jack of all Trades is concerned with telling a good tale, rather than maintaining historical accuracy. If you get all wrapped up in the inconsistencies of the setting, you will almost certainly miss out on the sheer joy present in this production.

Take, for instance, the chemistry between the two leads. It has been a while since I've seen such obvious energy between two actors. Lucy and Renee are great, but Bruce and Angela are more able to play with the sexual element in their character's relationship.

That chemistry is certainly helped by solid writing. Unlike its sister series, Jack seems to be very well suited to the half-hour format. Cleopatra 2525 lacks background development; there are too many pieces for the casual viewer to fill in. Jack doesn't suffer this problem, because this is very familiar territory.

And this, ultimately, is why I feel Jack of all Trades is the better series. I think Cleo had greater potential in the long run, but it requires more serious involvement on the part of the viewer. This ultimately limits its mass-market appeal.

If you're a fan of Bruce Campbell and really enjoy his work on both Hercules and Xena, you'll probably find Jack of all Trades to be entertaining, and a wonderful way to pass half an hour.

On the other hand, if you find most of the comedy episodes from those shows a trifle annoying, or even downright insulting, Jack probably isn't for you, because it is presented in that same style.