7:53am UK, Wednesday June 23, 2004

Martial arts legend Jackie Chan joined comic Steve Coogan at the British premiere of their new movie Around The World In 80 Days.

Steve Coogan plays Phileas Fogg

Coogan plays adventurer Phileas Fogg and Chan his sidekick Passepartout in the £60m Hollywood adaptation of Jules Verne's classic novel. 

The film has been a box-office disaster in the US and critics have panned Coogan's performance.     

But the Alan Partridge star put on a brave face at the Leicester Square screening and insisted the movie would be a hit.     

"There have been brilliant reviews," Coogan said of the film, which took just £3.7m in its opening three days.     

"It has got off to a slow start with audiences but there has been an excellent reaction from the people who have seen it. The film's success will build with word-of-mouth."     

American critics have been damming, however.     

The New York Post described Coogan as "painfully unfunny" and the Washington Post said he was "about as funny as wet bread".     

Kung-fu legend Chan arrived to a rapturous reception from the crowds outside the cinema.     

Coogan, 38, said: "I thought they were all screaming for me but then I realised Jackie Chan was standing behind me."