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It’s been way too long since the last Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. We’ve had Disney+ TV shows and the prequel Black Widow, but finally, the MCU’s Phase 4 really kicks off with Shang Chi.
The movie stars Simu Liu in the title role, as well as Awkwafina as his best friend Katy, Fala Chen as his sister Jiang Li, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung as his father Wenwu, Michelle Yeo as his aunt Ying Nan, and more. Shang Chi has to confront his past when the Ten Rings crime organization comes calling–and based on what critics are saying, the film sounds bonkers.
At the time of this writing, Shang Chi has an aggregate of 70 on Metacritic, based on 28 reviews. The site considers that “generally positive,” although there are some outliers in both directions. On Rotten Tomatoes, meanwhile, 60 reviews add up to a rating of 93%, which is firmly in the “Fresh” category.
Here’s a sampling from various reviews, as well as the trailer for good measure. Shang Chi hits theaters only on September 3, 2021.
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Directed by: Destin Daniel CrettonWritten by: Dave Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton, and Andrew LanhamStarring: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Fala Chen, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Michelle YeohRelease Date: September 3, 2021
GameSpot – 8/10
“Even with its flaws, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a signal of the MCU’s increasing willingness to break out of the mold and to simply try new things.” – Mason Downey – [Full Review]
Entertainment Weekly – B+
“It seems important to acknowledge that the release of a movie as Marvel-massive as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (in theaters Sept. 3) marks a major step forward for Asian representation on screen. It also feels important to note that it is fun: a Technicolor whirlwind of a film whose explosive fight choreography and dense mythology are leavened by a sweet and surprisingly nimble script.” – Leah Greenblatt – [Full Review]
IGN – 8/10
“Director Destin Daniel Cretton skillfully connects Shang-Chi’s personal stakes with the larger MCU by way of an emotionally complex villain, a stellar cast with fantastic chemistry, and incredible action sequences.” – Francesca Rivera – [Full Review]
Los Angeles Times – unscored
“Although tailored to the usual Marvel specifications–apocalyptic stakes, bloodless casualties–this endgame also has a distinctly personal undercurrent that seems to transcend the parameters of this particular story.” – Justin Chang – [Full Review]
Slashfilm – 6.5/10
“As Marvel remixes go, Shang-Chi is one of the more successful ones. Maybe not as stylistically strong as Black Widow and certainly not as much of a watershed moment as Black Panther, it is elevated by the strength of its hard-hitting fight scenes and the supporting performers–especially the Tony Leung of it all.” – Hoai-Tran Bui – [Full Review]
Variety – unscored
“The result broadens the brand’s spectrum of representation once again, offering audiences of Asian descent the kind of empowerment for which Black Panther paved the way a few years back.” – Peter Debruge – [Full Review]
Slant – 1.5/4
“As per usual for the MCU, the final act devolves into loud and chaotic visual nonsense, with the Oedipal reckoning between Shang-Chi and Wenwu giving way to an incomprehensible conflagration of magical beasts and largescale warfare that only further emphasizes the lack of interest that the film has in its ostensibly probing human drama.” – Jake Cole – [Full Review]
