SlashFilm gives Street Fighter a 5.5 rating due to tonal script
Paramount Pictures releases the live-action Street Fighter film in theaters, with /Film assigning the project a 5.5 out of 10 rating due to a tonal script that undercuts its action sequences.
Kitao Sakurai Uses Anime Sequences for Historical Events
Director Kitao Sakurai takes the helm of the production after previous work directing comedies like Bad Trip and The Eric Andre Show, alongside action and drama projects including Twisted Metal and Beef. SlashFilm reported that Sakurai establishes a strong visual foundation and maintains a steady pace for the film’s combat scenes. The movie incorporates Japanese anime-style sequences created by the studio Titmouse to depict historical events in the franchise. These include the 1987 World Warrior Tournament where young Ryu, observed by master Gouken and martial arts brother Ken, captures the championship.
Chun-Li Recruits Competitors for M. Bison's Tournament
The narrative moves to 1993, following Chun-Li as she recruits competitors worldwide for a new World Warrior Tournament hosted by the dictator M. Bison. Combat scenes feature early choreography highlights, notably a hotel room confrontation between reunited martial artists Ken and Ryu that utilizes techniques reminiscent of early Jackie Chan films. Andrew Koji stars as Ryu, Noah Centineo plays Ken, Don Lee portrays Gouken, Callina Liang appears as Chun-Li, David Dastmalchian features as M. Bison, and Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i plays Akuma. Kyle Mooney portrays Chun-Li’s Interpol partner, while Jason Momoa appears as Blanka.
The new Street Fighter movie looks great but has such a bizarre, messy script that it ends up sabotaging itself. Here’s our review. pic.twitter.com/zpRlSvCl3B
Tonal Shifts and Script Reception
SlashFilm noted that the production’s momentum is hindered by juvenile humor and an aversion to dramatic sincerity. Specific scenes feature Blanka performing hygiene-related gags, while other interactions involve characters exhibiting behavior toward Chun-Li that critics characterize as uncomfortably close to misogyny. Sakurai explained in a recent interview with Polygon that utilizing animation for flashbacks serves to prevent the material from becoming overly cheesy.
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More on Street Fighter
STREET FIGHTER’s martial arts confection gets more sour the longer the aftertaste lingers. It’s a movie that could’ve fought through one of its big flaws no problem, but all of them put together make for a KO. My review for @slashfilm :https://t.co/WaZpfvMpeE