Mostly that is the
case. David Cornelius said in his review, “Despite its typically cornball
Disney Channel plot, featherweight jokes, and girls-love-to-go-shopping themes,
there's actually a serious attempt to present some fun action throughout.”
Disney protagonist Brenda Strong, a tae-kwon-do black belt in real life, does
most of her own stunts (the exceptions are obvious but surprisingly rare),
while classic “wire fu” techniques let this actress to flip and fly like a pro.
The whole thing ends with a stunt-heavy finale of a kung fu statue beast, which
director John Laing and stunt coordinator Mark Harris (who also worked on the “Power
Rangers” and “Hercules” shows) along with a rage of family-friendly action delight.
Cornelius admitted, “So
yes, I'm actually surprised to say it, but for a lightweight, kid-centric
action movie, "Wendy Wu" does a pretty good job in the butt-kicking
department.”
However it stumbles all
over the place thanks to the decision to keep this in line with your typical
Disney Channel movie about a spoiled teen who finds out there are more important
things in life than being popular and buying new clothes. Cornelius said, “The
result, then, is something of an update on "Buffy the Vampire
Slayer," remixed with the Disney formula:” Wendy, played by Brenda Strong,
the most popular girl in school, has a high chance to win the vote for
homecoming queen, but she’s about to learn that she’s also the descendent of
ancient warriors that have to fight evil villains every ninety years. When her
sworn protector, Shen, played by Shin Koyamada, arrives from China to train
her, she must decide which is more important, saving the world or winning the
homecoming queen vote.
The whole thing is
exactly as dull, predictable and uninspired as it sounds. The screenplay
(credited to four writers) throws in hobble jokes about Wendy’s petty
boyfriend, Shen adapting to American living, teachers turning into kung fu warriors,
and Wendy herself being too self-centered and girly to want to train. We also
get a weak subplot with Wendy’s rival for homecoming queen, played by Ellen Woglom,
which is basically not fresh or interesting.
What is really a
problem with the film is the ongoing theme of cultural heritage. Here, the
filmmakers walk a very thin line – they should be credited for allowing the
richness of the Chinese culture to be the highlight with the story where Wendy’s
grandmother, played by Tsai Chin, mourns her family’s increasing
Americanization and ignoring family traditions as a result, yet they should
also be mindful that the actual story of the movie risks reinforcing the stereotype
that all Chinese people are martial arts experts. Cornelius noted, “It's a
balancing act that doesn't always work - Grandma turns out to be a warrior
herself - but in the quieter scenes, the ones where the family talks about
mooncakes and other almost-forgotten customs, the film's good intentions manage
to win out.”
Cornelius continued, “In
fact, this is the one place the movie does rise above its Disney Channel roots;
the idea of a family lamenting the loss of its heritage when joining the
melting pot is far more interesting than the typical teen-queen-learns-right
plotlines, and it's a theme that translate across races and cultures throughout
the nation.”
Neither that, the admirable
action scenes, nor Strong’s likeable lead performance are enough to make “Wendy
Wu” a hit. Cornelius mentioned, “The film is ultimately too mired in its own
Disney Channel-ness, with all the cheesy comedy, flimsy plotting, and character
cliché that comes with it.”
The action is nice and
the family theme is sweet, but “Wendy Wu” basically falls under the weight of
every necessary Disney Channel formula. Kids may want to go easy on the film,
ignoring the weak, predictable areas and just wanting to enjoy the fun stuff,
but older teens and parents will grow tired of the weaker parts too quickly.
Like I said, this is
alright, but it’s just a typical film. I know I sound repetitive when I say
that I’m not the right age group for these films, but I’m not. However, there
are good films, but this one I just find average. See it if you want.
Wait until tomorrow
when I look at the “Cheetah Girls” sequel in “Disney Channel Original Movie
Month.”
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