By now the whole Marvel formula feels, well... formulaic. Same deal each time, only this time with a woman or this time with a wizard. Well this time it's with an Asian guy. Shang-Chi feels pretty much like every other Marvel movie down to specific plot points from Black Panther or Spider-man. I've never found director Destin Daniel Cretton's work to be that inspiring and here he's pretty much plunked into the formula. I mean seeing this cast together, especially Yeoh and Leung, and really I'd watch Awkwafina do anything, is a treat so I'm not complaining. I just know exactly what I'm going to get and I got it.
Where the film really does come alive is its wuxia elements. The film apes Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (perhaps reminded of that because of Yeoh) and honestly does so beautifully. Once the fighting starts the film gets really fun. The choreography is exquisite and Cretton's camera comes alive during the moments. Sure it feels like it's just the flavour if this Marvel outing, but it works.
Also props for the way it handles Iron Man 3's horrible Mandarin plot point.
But when it gets back to its formula story it feels like formula. The ending has some pretty serious deus ex machina problems and I kept hoping for a potential twist which never arrived. But again, if the Marvel schtick is what you are looking for Shang-Chi delivers and you get to look at Simu Liu so that's always a plus.
On that note... I was a little frustrated that up until the very end it appeared he wasn't getting any love interest. Now let me explain a little. Normally I find an action movie with no romance plot can be refreshing. Often those parts of the story feel shoehorned in, perhaps to ensure the audience that the action hero is truly heterosexual. But as Hollywood has a bad history of not casting Asian men as romantic leads, to make their one Marvel Action Hero Man who is Asian not have a love interest felt... well, yucky. The film fumbles this recovery at the end by implying there might be a romance with Awkwafina although the film never gives us any real pay off for that so it's still a mystery.
Anyway, if this is your bag you'll dig it. It doesn't mess with the formula. If it ain't broke don't fix it! But if the Marvel thing wears on you then this one doesn't offer much new. I will give it props for having a consequential end credits scene. Stick to the end (the very end), the last scene is a game changer.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Starring: Simon Liu, Awkwafina, Meng'er Zhang, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh, Florian Munteanu, Ben Kingsley, Benedict Wong
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Writers: Dave Callaham, Andrew Lanham, Destin Daniel Cretton
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