Aug 18, 2023

-The Monkey King- REVIEW ROUNDUP: The beauty of Netflix's latest original is skin deep

As Netflix's original animated feature "The Monkey King" opens today, check out what critics are saying about the latest film adaptation of China's most popular fantasy tale.

"The Monkey King" is directed by Anthony Stacchi ("The Boxtrolls") and executive produced by legendary actor/director Stephen Chow, whose 2013 live-action adaptation of the same story, "Journey to the West (and a number of other modern action-comedy classics).

The Netflix animated version follows the epic adventures of the rebellious and charismatic Monkey and his magic stick as he overcomes 100 demons, an eccentric Dragon King, and Monkey's greatest enemy, his own ego. Along the way, a village girl challenges his egotistical attitude and shows him that even a small pebble can have a big impact on the world.

Critics have been largely positive in their reactions to the film, but some common complaints can be found. Several thought the story unfolded too quickly and that the film's narrative lacked depth. Some critics also criticized the film for being too Westernized in its storytelling, both narratively and from an aesthetic standpoint. Nevertheless, there were no bad reviews of the film's technical perfection, and all critics agreed that the animation in "The Monkey King" is first-rate, even if it lacks a bit of Chinese-ness.

The following are some of the critiques of "The Monkey King."

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter ranked "The Monkey King" alongside Netflix's other well-received original feature animated films:

"The Boxtrolls" directed by Anthony Stacchi of The Monkey King" is... . mines a wealth of source material to create a broadly accessible episodic adventure that mixes wild martial arts clashes with fantastic detours. Even if the Americanization follows the usual template, the film is tastefully sprinkled with the cultural specificity, spiritual elements, and philosophical lessons about hubris and humility of the original work.

Paste's B. Panther chose to compare the film to the previous work of executive producer Stephen Chow:

Fans of executive producer Stephen Chow's 2013 version of "Journey to the West" will no doubt find this version kindred spirits. Though aimed at a somewhat younger audience, "Sun Wukong" still has Chow's signature style, a mix of danger and comedy. With references to Chow's blockbusters such as "Shaolin Soccer" and "Kung Fu Hustle," "The Monkey King" is both a loving homage to Chow and a tribute to Chinese action and mythology. Like these films, "The Monkey King" is full of sharp satire, exuberant action, and lyrical sentimentality, and is as shifting and funny as it is glorifying mythology.

Screen Rant's Alex Harrison was less enthusiastic about the film, leaving the harshest critique of the story:

"Spider-Verse" series, "Puss in Boots," "TMN: The Last Wish," and other animation The film has reserved its harshest criticism for its story at a particularly exciting time for animation: the Spider-Verse series, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, as a new wave of Hollywood studio creativity seems to be sweeping across the country:

The film has reserved its harshest criticism for its story: [21] [22] The Spider-Verse series, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, and other animated films In this particularly exciting time for animation, it is all the more remarkable that animated films are subpar. Critics have a history of looking at underwhelming family films and shrugging their shoulders, saying that children will probably enjoy them for the whooshing colors. Netflix's new film, "The Monkey King," based on a timeless character from Chinese literature, does not clear that hurdle. While there are glimpses of visual creativity and humor, the film is burdened by a script that fails to find a dramatic center for the story. Once it loses its way in the first 15 minutes or so of its running time, it never again attracts us.

James Marsh of the South China Morning Post praised the noble intentions of the film's narrative, but felt it was not an authentic version of the classic Chinese story:

It is a worthy message that is universally recognizable, but the cultural specificity only extends to the costumes and architecture by the narrative, making it entirely generic. Even Monkey's trusty gold-banded walking stick glows and growls like a lightsaber. It is as if, for a generation familiar with "Star Wars," magic from anything else is too foreign a concept. This is one of the frustratingly reductive compromises in a film that, on its own merits, is a perfectly passable fantasy adventure. Yet "The Monkey King" remains a tightly closed gateway to a rich cultural world.

Collider's Arezou Amin, on the other hand, feels that the film is a good entry point for those new to the myth:

As a story and an introduction to the legend, "The Monkey King" does an excellent job of immediately immersing the audience in the story. With this, the rest of the story is a powerful journey for Sun Wukong and Lin. I don't know how this will sound to audiences already familiar with the story, but the film has enough originality to make it worthwhile. Whether or not this is your first experience with the Monkey King, the film is comical and heartfelt enough to resonate with audiences in a way that will resonate with them.