Review by Gilberto Campa
After thirteen years of countless origin stories, memorable characters, epic battles, and emotional stakes it seems that the MCU continues to evolve and grow in different ways. That momentum and anticipation help with introducing new characters and new stories for general audiences to enjoy. When it comes to the titular character of Shang-Chi, he isn’t necessarily a household name (but neither was Iron Man back in 2008). In fact, if it wasn’t for the star of the film and all-around good guy Simu Liu tweeting at Kevin Feige a few years ago to have a “chat”, then the movie would have never seen the light of day most likely.
This story is another ripple in the vast ocean that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This time around we are introduced to the self-titled character who has a troubled background, to say the least. Along with his best friend Katy (played by Awkwafina), they are both struggling to live up to their potential as they work for tips as Vallet drivers in San Fransisco. But when a planned encounter with members of The Ten Rings (an Iron Man callback) occurs, it forces Shaun (Shang-Chi) to reveal his secret as the best hand-to-hand fighter in the MCU (yeah I said it) and save Katy while finally confronting his past. Some of the elements of the movie that keep it apart from the rest of the MCU are the fight choreography, stunt work, and set pieces. The film is visually pleasing with some incredible shots and unique set designs that help the audience really feel and understand what is going on. There were also well-done representations of Asian culture that stretched to more than just the casting, particularly in some of the scenes between the family members, as well as the different philosophies that some of the characters had.
The director of the film Destin Daniel Cretton who had previously helmed Short Term 12 and Just Mercy did a wonderful job with the film, especially with the emotional beats. Just like some previous entries in the MCU, Destin’s personal touch was felt the entire time as there was a good balance of humor, action, and especially drama. At the heart of the story, it’s really about Shang-Chi and the relationship with his father who just happens to be one of the most powerful men in the world. Tony Leung who is one of the biggest and most internationally known actors in the world stepped into the role of Wenwu (The REAL Mandarin) and he did not disappoint. After numerous mentions of how powerful Wenwu was, you get to see that in spades right at the start. What really impressed me though was the number of levels to the relationship between Wenwu and his son, because it wasn’t just black and white. It was surprisingly deep, at least compared to some other light-hearted entries in the series which was nice to see. Overall the incredible fight sequences, character beats, and surprise MCU tie-in’s really helped to make Shang-Chi another solid entry into the MCU that is certainly worth your time. It stands on its own as a really solid movie that represents more than the usual Marvel formula, even though the familiar elements are handled very well.