Awkwafina | Screenlife Reviews

After crafting old-school spy thrillers, cosmic space adventures and box-office crushing event films, the MCU has had to shift in recent outings to new territory. The time jumping Loki and the television spanning Wandavision have shown how the long-running series has attempted to adapt to new mediums, and with their latest effort Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Marvel has shown how their films are attempting to differentiate going forward, in this instance with a visual feast of martial arts excellence. The hero himself might be slightly undercooked on debut, but thanks to a brilliant supporting cast, a villain to rival Thanos and Loki and a rich appreciation for Asian culture, Shang-Chi triumphs; introducing yet another game-changing layer to the juggernaut franchise going into its 13th year.

Simu Liu is Shang-Chi, going by the name Shaun as he ekes out a living as a valet with best friend Katy (Awkwafina). When their usual bus ride is besieged by assassins hell bent on stealing a necklace from Shaun’s neck, Katy discovers that the friend she thought she knew so well has a dark past, thanks in no small part to his father Wenwu’s (Tony Leung) position as the leader of terrorist syndicate The Ten Rings (a proxy of which appeared before in Iron Man 3).

After scrambling to protect sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) from the same group of assassins the trio find themselves face to face with Wenwu himself, a shell of his former self following the death of his wife; an event which sent him down a dark path of devotion to the ten rings: ancient artefacts that grant the wearer eternal life and superhuman abilities. Now hearing his wife’s voice and desperate to save her from a dark hellscape, Wenwu launches an all-out assault against the mythical realm of Ta Lo, putting himself at odds with his children who understand that what is really calling out to Wenwu will destroy the world if unleashed.

The best thing Shang-Chi has going for it is just how much director Destin Daniel Cretton is able to bend the Marvel formula to conform around the Asian talent and culture rather than the other way around. This feels like a wholly unique (for the MCU at least) modern martial arts epic, drawing inspiration primarily from Chinese culture, with expertly choreographed fight scenes that looked like they could be outtakes from classic Wuxia films like House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. These scenes are truly special – the bus scene heavily featured in the trailers is a particular highlight along with a vertigo-inducing skirmish on a high-rise scaffolding – full of carefully considered camera placement that allows you to take in the fluidity of the action; almost dance-like in a way that MCU action has never been before – no super-powered slugfests here.

That cultural examination flows through to the story, one of the best the MCU has seen in a long time. At the core of all the martial arts and epic action is a family drama, a long-gestating conflict between a father and his children that Cretton expertly manipulates to ensure that the audience feels for Wenwu as well as the heroes. Tony Leung is exactly the type of imposing presence necessary to portray the conflicted Wenwu, who found love through his wife and family but has lost that light following her untimely death; steeling himself against the world that he believes is responsible for his loss.

Reaching out to his children in an attempt to reassemble the family unit before going to war to save their matriarch is the last glint of goodness in Wenwu’s life, and watching his children reject his offer to rejoin their family organisation is both empowering and necessary to build our heroes, but also devastating to the fragile state of Wenwu; the last straw before he devotes himself entirely to his mission. We feel Wenwu’s pain through Leung’s eyes alone, full of hurt, regret and ultimately acceptance of what he must do; a fantastic performance that adds immensely to the film’s huge emotional centre.

Unfortunately that level of depth doesn’t quite extend to the film’s titular hero. While Liu brings an impressive physicality to the role of Shang-Chi, the character seems strangely devoid of personality; his story being driven largely through the interesting cast of characters he intersects with rather than the man himself. Part of this blankness is understandable as Shang-Chi is our guide into this world of the mystical new but his time as part of the cutthroat world of assassins as a child does not seem to have shaped his personality in any way other than some killer fight moves and monumental daddy issues. Where his character goes from here is anyone’s guess, but after this film it is safe to say that Shang-Chi as a character hasn’t found his hook yet; nothing about him promises the kind of crossover fun with the Avengers that the franchise relies on to stoke excitement.

Fortunately the excellent supporting cast makes up for any misgivings with Shang-Chi himself, filled to the brim with screen-stealing talent at every turn. Awkwafina is comedy gold as the awkward friend Katy, but beyond that has a nice little side arc as her character struggles with finding her place in the world; a relatable and empowering storyline that shows you don’t have to have superpowers or be the chosen one to be special in your own way. The always brilliant Michelle Yeoh brings a level of gravitas to her mentor role as the guardian of Ta Lo, guiding Shang-Chi and his crew on their journey. The most surprising discovery however is Meng’er Zhang as Shang-Chi’s sister Xialing, delivering an exceptional performance in her first on-screen role; her hard, menacing exterior giving way to a big heart and some extremely poignant and heart-wrenching moments as the member of Wenwu’s family most often forgot about.

Brimming with culture and character – outside of its lead – Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a breath of fresh air to an MCU in desperate need of one, bringing an entire new style of filmmaking to the party without ever losing the superhero fun that Marvel does so well. The new supporting characters and world it introduces have a depth that will surely see them become a staple of the franchise going forward; steeped in culture without ever alienating audiences unfamiliar with their origins. Destin Daniel Cretton should be applauded for bringing his distinctive style to the series where other directors haven’t been as succeessful, crafting a film that is not only a successful Marvel film, but a successful celebration of Asian culture and the Asian experience throughout the world.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings stars Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, Florian Munteanu, Ben Kingsley & Tony Leung – In cinemas now.

8/10

Disney films are like comfort food. Those classic tales like Aladdin or The Jungle Book that instantly take you back to childhood with epic, sweeping adventures that transport you into a fairytale world. 84 years on and Walt Disney Animation Studios shows no signs of slowing down, constantly innovating and changing with the times to deliver new stories to generation after generation. Their latest film Raya and the Last Dragon is a delightful throw-back to the lauded classics of Mulan and Hercules, a traditionally structured, if somewhat predictable story of a young woman destined to bring together the warring clans of her heavily South-East Asian influenced homeland Kumandra. With a swift pace aided by constant additions to Raya’s band of loveable brigands and an emotional centre that will warm and break your hearts multiple times, Raya is a film that respects the studio’s past and evolves it, with an authentic representation of Asian culture.

Set in the ancient land of Kumandra, we follow Raya (Kelly Marie-Tran) who, 6 years after a catastrophic mistake, has set out on a mission to unite the 5 pieces of the ancient Dragon Gem, created by Sisu (Awkwafina) – the last of the dragons – in a last-ditch attempt to thwart the ancient evil of the Druun. The locations of these pieces are all known to Raya thanks to her extensive knowledge of the history of the dragons and the once united land. What stands in her way are the different tribes – each named after a section of the dragon – that lay claim to a piece: Fang, Heart, Spine, Talon and Tail. Teaming up with a recently resurrected Sisu, Raya journeys through the vastly different areas, encountering myriads of enemies and traps, and collecting more than a few friends along the way including faithful Armadillo-like steed Tuk Tuk (Alan Tudyk), kid shrimp salesman Boun (Izaac Wong), the hulking but friendly warrior Tong (Benedict Wong) and Noi (Thalia Tran), a seemingly helpless baby who moonlights as a con artist with her three monkey companions, the Ongis. The already dangerous journey is hampered further by Namaari (Gemma Chan), a fearsome warrior and childhood rival to Raya from Fang, who is in constant pursuit of the group as they try to unite the pieces and vanquish the Druun once and for all.

What is instantly striking about Raya is the vibrancy of the world of Kumandra. The standard of animation on display is nothing short of stunning, filling each land with their own vivid colour palettes and distinct detailing. Tail is a vast wasteland of desert, an arid climate reminiscent of an Indiana Jones style adventure with ancient stone temples filled with booby traps. Talon is the complete opposite; a bustling, water bound marketplace – inspired by the floating markets of Thailand – lit by vibrant hues of orange and red from lamps that line the busy streets. Spine is a more traditional wooden village within a sprawling snowy forest of towering trees and bright crimson leaves, befitting the old-school warrior types that inhabit it. Everywhere you look is seeped in Asian culture, from the design of buildings and structures to the tiniest markings on swords and tapestries. Objects and traditions are pulled from Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and more to create a unique melting pot and celebration of Asian heritage, giving Raya a fully realised world that feels both familiar and foreign.

While the story within that world will feel familiar to anyone who has seen a Disney animated classic before, the updates that Raya makes bring it into a modern climate without losing any of that sense of fun and adventure. Raya herself is the ideal Disney heroine, strong and in command of herself and the situations around her, but without the need for any romantic entanglement to fill in the blanks. She has flaws, as does any character, but overcomes them and the challenges presented to her through perseverance, trust and sheer force of will. You don’t need to give Raya a man to pine over when you establish an emotional bond as strong as the one she has with her father. This acts as all the motivation needed to propel you through two hours of movie, and her father Benja’s (Daniel Dae Kim) teachings of trust and accountability are a wonderful message that is accessible for younger audiences to grasp onto. If we trust one another and work together, as Raya does with her varied compatriots from wildly different areas of Kumandra, then you can achieve the impossible. It’s a simple but important message that isn’t thrust in your face but rather woven into the fabric of the narrative, naturally presenting itself as the only option for success.

Terrific voice acting round out the package, with a stellar lineup of Asian and Asian-American talent lending their vocals to the animated spectacle. Kelly Marie Tran is phenomenal as Raya, imbuing her with a fierce determination to overcome all obstacles in her way. In the quieter moments when this veneer of confidence drops and we see the young girl who has turned her back on the prospect of unity is when the emotion shines through, as we see the toll her past mistakes have had on Raya and the pain she carries with her. Awkafina proves a perfect pairing to Tran, as Sisu possesses the exact opposite qualities to Raya. Bright and bumblingly confident at the prospect of uniting Kumandra and working together in harmony, Sisu shies away from the thought that she herself possesses an innate power, similar to her siblings, whose sacrifice led to the creation of the Dragon Gem. The pair’s chemistry instantly hits, forging a leading duo that has the audience onside right up to the very end, making those emotional gut punches the Mouse House likes to pull all the more potent. Benedict Wong, Izaac Wang and Gemma Chan all bring something different and unique to their characters, rounding out a diverse and endlessly fun central group of heroes and villains.

Applying a fresh coat of paint to a classic formula proves to be Raya and the Last Dragon’s biggest strength, combining the tried and tested Disney story of a heroine overcoming all of the formidable odds laid before her with a rich and deeply layered South East Asian inspired world, in a narrative that places character and its messages of trust and unity over male pining or other old tropes. With sumptuous animation and excellent voice-work, Raya is filled with delightful characters and a world that you will want to return to again and again. Unlike the dragon, let’s hope this isn’t the last time we see Raya.

Raya and the Last Dragon stars Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Izaac Wang, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Alan Tudyk, Lucille Soong & Benedict Wong – In cinemas and streaming on Disney+ with Premier Access now.