As the world turns, so does another Marvel hero make their way from comics to cinema, and with “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” we not only have the first new hero to the MCU since “Captain Marvel” but also the MCU’s first Asian hero, a watershed moment that should be greeted with as much enthusiasm as “Black Panther” was in 2018.
Simu Liu (“Kim’s Convenience,” “Blood and Water”) absolutely cements himself as a charismatic, ass kicking presence deserving of a lead superhero film. Even in the scenes that require more dramatic gravitas, the life and fun he’s clearly having never disappears. Likewise, Awkafina (“The Farewell,” “Crazy Rich Asians”) is also great, working as a source of comedic relief but also pulling her own weight when it comes to later film dramatic moments not immediately associated with her acting skills.
Meng’er Zhang is a steely-eyed scene stealer in her film debut as Shang-Chi’s sister Xialing and Michelle Yeoh (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Crazy Rich Asians”) delivers a great, if minimal performance as the sibling’s aunt Ying Nan. There are also quite a few scene-stealing cameos that won’t be spoiled here, but for as excellent as the main cast is, no one holds a candle to Tony Leung (“Lust, Caution,” “Hard Boiled”) as Shang-Chi’s father, the antagonistic Wenwu.
His presence is immediately felt, and he delivers the dialogue like its Shakespeare. Given his long history of acting in legendary Hong Kong films like “Chungking Express” and “In the Mood for Love,” the fact that he’s mastered the art of a simple, wordless, menacing presence is no surprise. He’s easily comparable not just to the finest antagonists of the MCU, but to the finest antagonists of the superhero genre, like Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock and Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor.
Like Molina’s Ock, Wenwu is also not an entirely evil antagonist, hence the term antagonist rather than villain. While he occupies the side of the story opposite the hero, his motivations are easy to understand and empathize with and writers Dave Callaham (“Wonder Woman 1984,” “Zombieland: Double Tap”), Andrew Lanham (“Just Mercy,” “The Kid (2019)”), and writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton (“Short Term 12,” “Just Mercy”) go to great lengths to deliver multiple scenes that allow these characters and their emotional dynamics to be explored.
Though, this is a Marvel movie after all, and while it has more emotional downtime than most, its still an action film first and foremost. Not only does it deliver on the action, but its some of the finest of the franchise to date. Funny how much better things look when they’re edited without cutting 20 times a second. Renowned Cinematographer Bill Pope (“The Matrix,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”) shoots the film following the momentum of the action instead of reacting to it, and it allows for some excellent hand to hand combat that has a smooth choreographed flow to it that is maintained even as the third act busts out the typical Marvel laser show.
“Shang-Chi” is an absolute blast but isn’t perfect. Like some of Marvel’s previous efforts, its emotionally interesting and delivers some terrific performances but wraps both of those elements in a pretty bog-standard plot. The Asian influences dress it up a bit more, with alternate universe creatures and gorgeous mystical elements, but the plot is the same “kid who wants to distance themselves from controlling parent” story that’s been told time and time again.
To his credit, Cretton distances the film from that standardized plot as much as possible using those elements, resulting in a film that’s a blast to just sit back and watch. It goes by in a flash, remaining breezy and light, without sacrificing the slower moments of emotional impact.
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” suffers from some typical Marvel issues but also bounces back with some of the best action in the entire franchise and an absolute stand-out performance from Tony Leung. It’s a breezy and extremely fun ride that doesn’t sacrifice its action for emotions or vice versa. If you never get a second chance at a first impression, it’s a good thing Shang-Chi has made a pretty damn good one. 4/5
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