Having a “China” day with new reviews of this Chinese oddity, plus the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel, and Kung Fu Panda 3. I’ll also try to throw up some other reviews during the week since the entertainment section has been a little neglected lately…
What Works: This was a massive hit in China, which maybe tells you a lot about Chinese tastes since this thing is far too goofy and childish to be a massive hit among adults in the states. Still it’s a fascinating peak into what Chinese audiences are allowed to watch, and how that has shaped their tastes. Think less “hard-hitting political thrillers” and more “CGI martial-arts comedies that look like they were made for kids to watch on an airplane.”
What Doesn’t Work: The biggest highlight of this film might be that the male lead gets pregnant with a cute, cuddly monster baby during a slapstick-style battle with other monsters and monster hunters. Yep, it’s ridiculous and more than a little mind-numbing, and you might have to wonder if there aren’t enough terrible CGI-spectacles in America (looking at you “Gods of Egypt”) without having to export them to make us dumber. Although it’s safe enough for kids to watch, adults may be more than slightly bored.
What I Would Have Done Differently: Well I would say “make more adult films” but Chinese filmmakers might not want to wind up in a jail cell, so I can understand that. This is the biggest film in their entire history, so I’m guessing it’s “good enough” for most involved.