By Rachel Huser
As a Marvel fan, I was nervous for the MCU when the beloved Avengers turned the page on their stories.
I think fans can agree with me when I say this, our nerves have been calmed and we are pleasantly surprised with recent Marvel content. “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is the latest installment of an impressive start to phase four of the MCU.
I had no knowledge of the comic book story going in, so I was a little nervous about how this was going to connect to the rest of the MCU regarding both the present and past. Without spoiling anything, Marvel elegantly tied the movie to the rest of the universe.
The film focuses on Shang-Chi, who goes by Shaun, a valet driver in San Francisco, or so it seems. Quickly, he and his best friend Katy get involved in a scuttle on a city bus that ultimately reveals who Shang-Chi really is; the son of Mandarin, the man who possesses the 10 rings.
Realizing that his father is going after him and his sister, Xialing, Shang-Chi and Katy embark to reach her before their father does. After some fighting, Shang-Chi and Xialing return to their home village, Katy trailing behind them, to find out that their father needs their help to bring back their dead mother.
The rest of the movie follows the trio, as they figure out if they should help their father or save their mother’s village from destruction. I will stop there to avoid revealing any spoilers.
The movie was fast-paced, there was never a dull moment. It had the right amount of comedy, albeit it was a little rough in the beginning. It seemed forced. It did get better though, and the dynamic between all the characters was astounding, especially between Katy and Shang-Chi.
The movie was easily better than Black Widow in almost all aspects. It had better comedy, cameos and storyline. Director Destin Daniel Cretton exquisitely combined flashbacks with the present to tell the story of Shang-Chi’s family. The transitions were seamless.
I would go see this movie in theatres again. Rachel rating: 9/10.
rhuser@my.dom.edu
