‘Shang-Chi’ Review: Marvel’s Thrilling Martial Arts Epic Makes All The Right Moves

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a gloriously entertaining action dramedy. That its also the 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is almost beside the point, except to offer hope and confidence that the post-Endgame wave of MCU flicks wont just be resting on the established fandom or even the notion of being a demographically-specific event movie. In a skewed way, an adherence to Marvels character-specific formulas (bad dads, sibling rivalries, surrogate families, etc.) allows it to both feel like a distinctly Destin Daniel Cretton-directed flick and buck conventions in terms of stereotypical Asian-targeted Hollywood flicks. With fun performances, varied action, plausible stakes, a sense of specificity and quite a few not in the trailers surprises, Shang-Chi is one of the better part one MCU solo origin story flicks thus far.
Following an extended flashback that sets up the films villain (Tony Leung), we meet Shaun (Simu Liu). Hes an unapologetic slacker, having lived away from home for a decade and become satisfied with a workaday existence as a valet alongside a longtime friend (Awkwafina), with both of them getting pressures to grow up and push themselves. The theft of a valued necklace amid a seemingly random trolly car mugging sets Shaun on a journey to return home. As Katie soon finds out, Shauns real name is Shang-Chi and his father is a very rich and very powerful crime boss. With Katie insisting on tagging along as our hero searches for his estranged sister (Meng’er Zhang), Shang-Chi may not be able to run from his destiny, but hes going to do everything he can to change it.
The first Asian-led MCU flick wastes no time asserting itself as a MCU does wuxia appropriation. Bill Popes lush cinematography (which I wish it had been shot on film, natch) and the multiple martial arts showdowns evokes many of the films which will be most familiar to western audiences. A first-act skirmish doesnt just evoke Jackie Chan, it explicitly references Rumble in the Bronx (the first non-Hollywood Chan flick to get a wide theatrical release). The prologue plays like a loving ode to Hero and especially House of Flying Daggers, the two Zhang Yimou martial arts melodramas most likely to have been seen by western audiences. The Shang-Chi comic books are closer to The Spy Who Loved Me than Ip Man, but I guess that gives the sequel a new sandbox in which to play.
After Mortal Kombat and Snake Eyes, its nice to see a big-budget Hollywood martial arts flick where you can see and comprehend the action. There is as least some commitment to the whole long takes and wide shots mentality, and theres even a terrific second-act beat in a scaffolding that A) played like a great 2-D platform video game and B) reminded me climax of Prachya Pinkaews Chocolate. Look, this isnt on the level of an Indonesian action spectacular (and Im not a Scott Adkins expert), but nor will your kids vomit in their popcorn as Iko Usais and Joe Taslim hack each other to bits while turning civilians and faceless foes into hamburger meat. The film has its share of murder and melodrama, but its fine for kids as long as they can read English subtitles.
As far as its connections to a broader Marvel universe, it has its cake and eats it too. The 132 minute feature is probably 95% standalone, but it seems to revel in referencing some of the most arcane MCU continuity bits almost entirely for Why the hell not? sport. The trailer gives away the return of Incredible Hulks Abomination, but his reveal is only the set-up for a crowdpleasing pay-off. The film indeed refers to the events of Iron Man 3, with Leungs Wenwu /The Mandarin sardonically discussing that films controversial plot twist as if hes lecturing dimwitted MCU fans who didnt get it back in 2013. Yes, Leung walks away with the picture like hes a post-Batman/Die Hard 90s-era baddie, both because hes made of 87% charisma and because, well, hes in quite a bit of the movie.
Shang-Chi obviously avoids obvious cultural stereotypes, but a sympathetic motivation and specific goals (this villain doesnt want to rule or destroy the world) even makes for a more thoughtful narrative and (via a plausible endgame) more earned suspense. Much of the second act takes place within and around the confines of Wenwus impenetrable bad guy fortress, which does allow for some 007-ish vibes, even as the Heres my evil plot reveal is meant to inspire as much pity as it does fear. Without going into details, the evil plot (and both Shang-Chi and sister Xialings reaction to it) brings to mind the struggles of grown children dealing with the mental decline of their parents. It adds a sympathetic touch to Marvels standard daddy issues, although the patriarch being a globally-feared crime boss is more discussed than shown.
The picture slowly lets its fantastical freak flag fly, with visuals and reveals that show Feige and friends either letting Cretton do whatever the hell he wanted (the film absolutely feels like a picture from the guy who made Short Term 12 and The Glass Castle) or a genuine understanding of why Venom and Aquaman kicked box office butt in China and around the world. Im tempted to call Shang-Chi the anti-Mulan, as the film isnt remotely preoccupied with conventional family honor, stereotypical respectability while avoiding the whole stiff-upper lip mentality that made Niki Caros (objectively pretty good) action drama less of a crowdpleaser. I have no idea if or when Shang-Chi will play in China, but it does feel at least somewhat appealing to the folks who flocked to Monster Hunt, Ne Zha and Detective Chinatown 2.
Simu Lui makes an engaging-enough protagonist, even if he is arguably the proverbial straight man reacting to the chaos around him. That he doesnt wear a mask and doesnt shoot lasers out of his hands means he had to master an entirely different skill set, which means he should be graded on a kind of backwards and in heels curve. Martial arts abilities notwithstanding, its arguably a situation, not unlike Benedict Cumberbatchs Doctor Strange or Paul Rudds Ant-Man, where hell be more fun when he shows up fully formed in someone elses superhero flick. Awkwafina is very much cast to type, and I mean that as a compliment, while Zhang plays an almost identical role to Karen Gillans in Guardians of the Galaxy, the neglected/disfavored sibling coping in her own way with an abusive father.
Yes, there are pacing issues, an overly CGI-reliant and overlong action finale and a central platonic relationship that is shockingly chaste even by MCU standards. Considering cultural concerns about the emasculation of Asian men in American pop culture, it seems like a missed opportunity and one that stands out alongside Shang-Chis can and do get it MCU comrades. These are nitpicks in a gleefully entertaining piece of blockbuster filmmaking that otherwise hits its targets. It avoids certain world-building tropes and blockbuster-specific narrative cheats (Michelle Yeoh does *not* play Wenwus late wife) while adhering to certain MCU formula beats. With strong action, fun characters, clever plotting and an unapologetic willingness to indulge in fantasy and weirdness, Destin Daniel Crettons Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a thrilling start to Phase Four of the MCU.read more