'Shang-Chi and the Legned of the Ten Rings' A Review

Shang-Chi is a superhero movie, the MCU's latest, that serves as an origin story for Shang-Chi(Simu Liu). In the distant past Xu Wenwu(Tony Leung) acquires the ten rings, mystical objects that grant immortality and power, he then creates an army and over the centuries conquers various kingdoms and undermines governments to extend his power and influence. In his search for even more power he finds a hidden gateway to a magical city, meets and falls in love with Ying Li(Fala Chen), they have two children, their family life doesn't last long. Flashfoward to Shang-Chi parking cars in San Francisco with his best friend Katy(Awkwafina) when the two are attached and drawn into a sinister plot by Wenwu's men. Shang-Chi must grapple with his identity and decide who he wants to become.

Liu gives a great, fastball, no frills performance, physically he's impressive and clearly does most if not all of his(substantial) stunts adding a needed layer of authenticity in a franchise that is frequently overwrought with CGI. But he also takes the time to give the character dimension, at the heart of it is not the action or the superpowers but the search for self and purpose and grappling with guilt that drives the character. And although there is a lot of(excellent) action the emotional arc of the character is never sacrificed. There's also a stream of solid and fluid humor from Liu and Awkwafina, who have great chemistry, and she also as a 'non-powered' person is a great foil not only for Liu but for the whole situation. Awkwafina carves out a space for herself in this movie and in the MCU without a tragic backstory, without lasers or super strength, because the character is funny but also has incredible empathy. And it's clear the filmmakers know this as she is prominent in the story, not relegated to the sidelines. Leung is one of the MCU's best villains, he has depth and complexity, and carries this kind of unshakable melancholy despite his reprehensible actions. It's an impressive feat to make the character not only sympathetic but charming. The theme of family is big in the story and the proper time is taken to really let that aspect of it breathe and blossom. The supporting cast is too stacked to go into suffice it to say there isn't a weak link in the chain.

The action is varied and extremely compelling with inspirations from wushu wire work to Jackie Chan, as with most MCU movies the third act does have a CGI extravaganza but at least here it is a bit more creative and the emotional stakes are clear. The production is solid, with some great inspirations particularly in the set design and costuming, although there is some of the MCU glitz that perhaps smooths things out some. What's most impressive is the script and direction, director/co-writer Destin Daniel Cretton gives us the spectacle we are accustomed to with superhero movies but builds the action, a street fight on a bus, a brawl on scaffolding, escalating upward to the fantastic, creating an actual sense of reality and stakes. Paired with this is equal attention to the various main characters emotions and motivations which, particularly in the last several MCU movies hasn't been much of a concern. This of course makes all the inevitable magic and mayhem actually mean something.

A refreshing, impactful, fun superhero movie.

Currently in theaters coming soon to VOD.

See It.