The new Chinese animated film, All Wishes Come True is the latest blockbuster from the quickly developing Chinese film industry. Last year, one of the biggest films in the world was Ne Zha 2, which earned over $2.2 billion worldwide, and it’s clear that Chinese studios are fully harnessing its juggernaut domestic box office that Hollywood has long coveted.
From Pearl Studio, which co-produced Kung Fu Panda 3 and originally started as a Dreamworks venture, the film reimagines the beloved Chinese mythology story “The Eight Immortals”. All Wishes Come True is a stylish, action-packed and surprisingly funny fantasy film that highlights some of the most exciting elements of Chinese mythology. While the film has a lot to offer, it’s far too long, a hefty 2 hour and 24 minute runtime, and would have benefited greatly from some deft editing. Still, with fast-paced action, enjoyable characters and more than its fair share of plot twists, fans of Asian inspired fantasy are in for a treat.
All Wishes Come True is in theaters in the U.S. now.
Review – A Chinese Fantasy Heist Film with Unexpected Laughs
Modern retellings of old mythology are always challenging. Storytellers are tasked with taking the timeless elements that made a myth so enduring and repackage them in a way that they think will appeal to modern audiences while not losing their essence. It’s a fine line that can have massive success (see The Odyssey), and substantial failure (like Gods of Egypt). Making stories centered on Asian mythology for a global audience is even more challenging, as there are so many cultural elements that are still unknown to western viewers. Sun Wukong, The Monkey King, is perhaps the most legendary figure in East Asian mythology, but many in the U.S. have barely heard of the character beyond a video game appearance.
All Wishes Come True takes another legendary Chinese folktale, “The Eight Immortals,” which is even more obscure for most outside of Asia, and tells a story that feels like a fantasy-based video game. That’s not an insult, as the film is full of epic martial arts action, incredibly fast pacing (for the first 2/3rd of the film) and packed with lovable characters.
The Eight Immortals Become a Lovable Heist Crew
The film tells the tale of a group of mortals who live in a world full of gods and immortals (there’s always a hierarchy) and are intent on stealing a wealth of gold locked behind a divine vault. Lü Dongbin is a mysterious swordsman whose primary purpose is to retrieve a lantern that can save the world, while the others – Zhongli Quan, Tieguai Li, Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu, Lan Caihe and Zhang Guolao – are in it for the money. The crew is later joined by the only female member of the group, He Xiangu, who may or may not be legendary hero called the Lord of Dark Blade.
For a majority of the film, All Wishes Come True is more a heist film than a fantasy one, as the group gradually comes together and plans to break into the vault where the gods are hiding the gold. In the process, they must pretend to be immortals, are forced into helping grant the wishes of mortals (which all immortals must do) and avoid the attention and wrath of the gods. All the planning and associated shenanigans are a delight, with quick cuts and plenty of humor. There’s one moment in particular that perfectly encapsulates the tone of the film, when the three gods in power visit the group of pseudo immortals who have accidentally gained notoriety for their excellence in wish granting. The gods interrupt the group while they’re actively digging towards the vault to unknowingly offer them an exorbitant amount of gold to protect the vault. It’s a moment of hilarious irony that the group can’t even celebrate the unexpected wealth that literally dropped into their laps because doing so might cause the gods to notice the massive hole the crew is digging.
The Fantasy Spectacle Weighs the Film Down
The gods invite the crew to a divine banquet, which is there they fear that their gold will be stolen. At that point, the film shifts from heist comedy to action fantasy spectacle with far less success. The team identifies and faces their main adversary, an immortal named Yang Jian, who has a Thanos-like quality and power. At that point, the story gets weighed down by delving a bit too deeply into the mythology, which can get confusing. There’s a pro-longed fight sequence that looks fantastic but is about 10-15 minutes too long, which is then followed by a fairly satisfying conclusion and then another protracted epilogue.
Ultimately, the film delivers an exceptionally strong 90 minutes and sees a substantial diminishing of returns from there. At its best, it’s quick, smart and funny. At its worst, it’s overindulgent and overstuffed. Fans of Asian inspired video games are sure to have a great time with this film and those who simply wish to expand their exposure to Chinese mythology and characters will enjoy it as well, as long as they have a little patience.
All Wishes Come True Rating – 3/5 Pocky
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
