When it comes to animated films like “The Tiger’s Apprentice,” what you see is what you get. It’s not original, but kids will instantly connect with this action-packed lightning-fast flick.
Based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Laurence Yep of the same name, “The Tiger’s Apprentice” centers on Tom (Brandon Soo Hoo), a Chinese-American high schooler who discovers that he comes from a long line of protectors called the Guardians. He is instantly bullied at school because he lives with his grandma, who covers their modest San Francisco home with charms and makes it look like a temple. Though Tom doesn’t know it as he constantly takes down these charms, they are meant to ward off evil spirits, especially Loo (Michelle Yeoh), who is seeking a necklace, which turns out to be a phoenix egg – a dangerous, powerful item that could destroy humanity.
Soon, Tom learns that he has hidden powers when he can defend himself from one of those bullies by sending them into the ceiling. Unable to understand what happened, Tom attempts to shake it off as nothing while connecting with Ravi (Leah Lewis), a rebellious adoptee who loves skateboarding and boba as much as he does.
When Tom gets home, he takes down the charms and receives a small lecture from his kind grandma. He tells her he doesn’t understand these charms and wants to be normal. So she tells him that he doesn’t have to know to understand and that the family has never been normal. Of course, Tom thinks she is speaking in riddles, which makes it harder for him to accept anything she says. So Tom’s grandma will reveal everything to him as soon as he puts all the charms he took down back up where they belong. So he hurriedly puts them back up, and in the wrong order, according to a strict and grizzled man named Hu (Henry Golding), who turns out to be a shapeshifting Tiger and one of the 12 members of the Chinese Zodiac. Tom then learns he comes from a long lineage of mystical protectors known as the guardians. So when Loo returns to claim the phoenix egg, she successfully kills Tom’s grandma.
A skeptical Tom may be reluctant to accept the role of the Guardian, but he will have to learn quickly as Loo recovers from her wounds from her battle with Tom’s grandma and captures members of the Chinese Zodiac.
At a breezy hour and 23 minutes, it’s not like “The Tiger’s Apprentice” has the time to expand upon the nuances of the characters and story. As such, the film comes off as convoluted and delivers its exposition anecdotally. While that may be annoying to someone looking out for that, the fantastic action sequences and funny gags will instantly connect with the younger target audience. But the film is so rushed to get to the next set piece and action sequence that it overlooks the character development and narrative segues. With the way the film moves and is edited, it can feel like bits and pieces of information are missing. Then again, the goofs and gags, action sequences, and visual effects are so much fun that they may not matter to someone who wants to have a good time.
For what it’s worth, “The Tiger’s Apprentice” is an animated film that does the job. It has a resonating story about kids who don’t tell their parents – or, in this case, their grandparents – that they are being bullied and struggling to fit in. The coming-of-age story has lessons about trusting your elders and your friends while encouraging its younger audience to find confidence in themselves. We see this early on in how Tom uses sarcasm as a shield and is often a punching bag for bullies. Of course, that all changes when he discovers his hidden powers.
“The Tiger’s Apprentice’s” may boast an impressive all-star Asian cast. However, their performances are wooden at best. It’s as if they were reading off the script without adding any emotional nuances required for the dramatic or comedic scenes. It doesn’t help that the lack of energy is echoed by the supporting cast, some of whom have better voiceover performances than this.
The execution of the uninspired story could be better for high-concept coming-of-age fantasy with resonating themes. It’s derivative as it lazily pulls from other stories about its main character who is unaware of their family lineage thrust into a high-stakes adventure where they learn about themselves through reluctant teachers who don’t believe their student can learn what needs to be learned. And so, the only way to separate itself from those familiar stories is to use the Chinese Zodiac as warriors that will support Tom on his quest.
Having the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac as magical martial artists may be a fun way to educate audience members who may not be familiar with it, but they are portrayed as caricatures. While Rat (Bowen Yang) has a cheesy way of introducing them, which comes off – according to Tom – as if he were announcing a basketball team, it seems like a wasted opportunity to show the significance of each animal and how their respective personalities may connect to them depending on what year they were born.
On the bright side, “The Tiger’s Apprentice” has cultural and generational humor that may illicit a laugh or two from the older members of the audience. Tom said he would not be waxing cars or climbing stairs to the obligatory tune of “Eye of the Tiger” during training montages. These humorous nods and quotes are meant to bridge those gaps and introduce those films to a younger audience unfamiliar with their cinematic origins. We also get to hear jokes about how Tom is lactose intolerant. At one point, Tom struggles to chant a “fǎ shù” spell, to which Hu says, “Your pronunciation is all wrong.” Anyone who has had difficulty learning a second language will instantly connect with that struggle thinking they are saying it correctly, but is actually saying incorrectly. And then, when they think they are saying it correctly, they are saying something else. It’s all in good fun.
“The Tiger’s Apprentice” is too simplistic in its execution, lacks emotional depth, and doesn’t take chances when given the opportunity. Still, its heart is in the right place and has a universal story with cultural specificities that allow minoritized people to connect to the characters on screen and have their experiences validated. It celebrates a culture and the discovery of what makes a person so special through accessible ways while also reminding those to take pride in their heritage and identity.
6/10
“The Tiger’s Apprentice” debuts exclusively on Paramount+ on February 2, 2024.
