Yes, I've been watching comic book movies at an unusual frequency lately. But I wanted to watch another movie in a theater for the first time in months, this one was on at an acceptable time, and I'm pretty sure my dad was willing to pass on it.
The last two words of the title refer to either an East Asian terrorist gang or the magical artifacts worn by its leader, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung). Xu Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), son of Wenwu, was trained to be an assassin but ran away to San Francisco, where he serves as irresponsible valet Shaun. His long-time friend and co-worker Katy (Awkwafina) has no idea of his background until, after a decade, Wenwu's men come to steal the jade pendant Shang-Chi got from his late mother, Ying Li (Fala Chen). Certain that they'll go after his estranged sister, Xialing (Meng'er Zhang), for her pendant, Shang-Chi heads for Macau, and Katy insists on joining him to learn more. He doesn't know what his dad's up to, but it can't be good.
What's unusual about Wenwu among villains is that he used to be more evil. For a millennium, he used his rings to conquer nations, but his love for Li led him to give that up. Even after her death at enemy hands led him to resume gang leadership, he was nowhere near the warlord he once was. Now all he wants is to reunite the family, including Li, who he believes has been magically beckoning to him from beyond a sealed door in her secret homeland of Ta Lo, which he needs the pendants to reach. The people of Ta Lo, led by Li's sister Nan (Michelle Yeoh), maintain that he is deceived by the demon they keep there, but he doesn't believe it. Shang-Chi can see that their explanation makes more sense, and he is determined to commit patricide if need be. Ironically, Wenwu is similarly willing to bring lethal force to bear against his son, which half-defeats his purpose.
You won't find the name "Wenwu" in preexisting Marvel comics. He is a combination of Fu Manchu (father of Shang-Chi) and the Mandarin (wearer of the rings), neither of whom would fly today. He actually mentions that westerners have called him the Mandarin, which he finds insulting. The rings have changed as well, starting with them having grown into bracelets. They don't appear to have properties unique from one another; they just strengthen him and can be moved around psychokinetically. You'd think they wouldn't be enough of a superweapon to make Wenwu that much of a threat, but maybe there's more to them than we've seen so far.
And what can Shang-Chi do? Just martial arts, usually without weapons. Good thing he has a lot of company to make things more interesting. Xialing, tho self-trained, is no less competent. Even Katy gets moments to shine. I'll grant that the combat ballet -- overseen by The Matrix cinematographer William Pope -- is ludicrous, not least in a fight on a bus that nobody thinks to brake until after the fight (way to make San Francisco even less inviting), but it's no Kung Fu Hustle or even Five Deadly Venoms.
Unlike many Marvel Cinematic Universe entries, this one does not really call on viewers to know certain things about the MCU already. Only two previously established characters appear before the mid-credits sequence: the mystic Wong (Benedict Wong), out of the shadow of Dr. Strange for once; and former Mandarin imposter Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), who has gone from apparent villain to harmless comic relief. So that's where he's been since Iron Man 3.
What's more likely to confuse you is the habit of time jumps. Oh, it's always obvious when we're looking at the past, but sorting out all the flashbacks in order takes a little more thought. You're bound to have a few questions long before the answers arrive.
If the plot, action, and humor don't do much for you, you may still like the visual design, especially of the mythical creatures in Ta Lo. They're a pretty colorful bunch, not least the hundun, one of whom accompanies Trevor like a faithful yet more intelligent dog. Of course, what lies behind the door is neither beautiful nor cute. I don't call that a spoiler; in any story in which heroes try to prevent the release of a great evil, you can bet they'll fail and have to fight the evil.
That touches on the main weakness of the flick: It telegraphs too many moves. Much as I appreciate adding a somewhat different flavor to the MCU, with no White guy hogging Asians' glory like Dr. Strange or the Iron Fist, it just isn't all that fresh.
The mid-credits scene is worth sticking around for if you want a sequel hook rather than a laugh. The same goes for the final scene, but I initially thought it imparted no new information.
If you're strongly into martial-art fantasies or superhero epics, check it out. But I recommend that my dad wait until it comes to Disney+, if ever.
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