The Monkey King (2023)

This is a version of a review airing on ABC Radio across regional Victoria on August 24, 2023.

(PG) ★★★★

Director: Anthony Stacchi.

Cast: (voices of) Jimmy O. Yang, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Bowen Yang, Jo Koy, Nan Li, Stephanie Hsu, BD Wong, Ron Yuan, Hoon Lee, Andrew Pang, Andrew Kishino, Jodi Long, James Sie, Dee Bradley Baker.

Sticks were in, broomsticks were so passe. 

The 16th century Chinese folklore story known as Journey To The West is perhaps one of the most adapted tales of all time. Dozens and dozens of live action and animated versions exist across both the big and small screens. And with its 100 chapters, there is plenty of fodder in Journey To The West to fill dozens more adaptations in the centuries to come.

This glossy, high-energy Netflix CG animation is the latest, but it's one of the most accessible. Pacey and punchy, it's a short, sharp introduction to the titular character that has just enough depth and characterisation to temper its ferociously fast action sequences and to ensure all ages are thoroughly entertained.

The film is essentially the origin story of the Monkey King, or the first seven or so chapters of Journey To The West. It follows the hero from his birth out of a meteorite to his quest for immortality. Along the way he steals a magical stick (Li) that becomes his weapon of choice, and reluctantly teams up with a young peasant girl named Lin (Hoang-Rappaport).

To call The Monkey King frenetic is an understatement, but there is a level of control and visibility to its rapid-fire storytelling and fight scenes that is very welcome. It knows when to take a breath and squeeze a character moment in among the scattergun gags and hyperactivity, and it knows how to make a set-piece easy-to-follow despite moving at a million miles an hour.

Stacchi, whose background is in special effects and storyboarding, brings so much verve and energy to the film. There are some interesting flourishes of individuality - a montage of Monkey King taking on 99 demons is shown in a flashy paintbrush style, Stick's voice is Mongolian throat singing, and there are some choice heavy metal originals in the soundtrack. These elements help make the tropier bits of the storytelling feel refreshing, surprisingly fun, and super awesome. 

The Asian-American voice cast is excellent, with Yang channelling Chris Rock as the star of the show, Hoang-Rappaport brings the heart as Lin, and the iconic BD Wong showing up as Buddha. The characters are memorable and some of them feel a bit different to what we might see in a normal kids film - Monkey King's arrogance and egomania is certainly unique.

It's great fun, though it feels a little slight overall and a bit weak thematically. But that doesn't stop it being perfect for all ages, and a great introduction into one of the greatest Chinese stories of all time.