The Epic Adventure of The Monkey King: An Unparalleled Review

Journey to the West is one of the most frequently adapted stories in existence, with a new cinematic version premiering approximately every nine months in the last decade alone. The recently released animated adaptation on Netflix is the result of six years of inconsistent work, taking a unique approach by focusing on a part of the story that other adaptations typically overlook.

Director Anthony Stacchi has been a part of the animated film industry since his involvement in James and the Giant Peach. He is most recognized for his work as the writer and director of the 2014 stop-motion film The Boxtrolls. Co-writers Steve Bencich and Ron J. Friedman, who also worked on Stacchi's directorial debut Open Season, were attached to the project when it was announced by Pearl Studio in 2017.

The Monkey King, born from a stone, struggles to find his place in a traditionalist jungle society. Mischievous and arrogant, he considers himself Earth's most important being and believes slaying 100 demons will prove his greatness. To accomplish this, he steals a powerful shape-shifting staff that recognizes him as its rightful owner. A revenge-seeking dragon, bound to the sea due to a skin condition, pursues the Monkey King across the nation. Along his journey, the Monkey King encounters Lin, a young girl who becomes his biggest fan. Together, they embark on a quest for immortality, seeking fun and new challenges as they traverse the countryside.

The Monkey King delivers in all the right ways with its beautiful animation, abundant energy, and consistently captivating visuals. However, its high level of energy may be too overwhelming for some viewers, with those under 20 likely enjoying it the most while other viewers may miss out on the finer details. The action scenes are truly impressive, particularly Monkey's entertaining acrobatics that will mesmerize younger fans. There is a constant flow of new fight scenes, each one escalating towards an epic grand finale. While the enemies don't pose much of a threat, the audience never doubts Monkey's victory. Unlike typical anime, the action is more fast-paced, slapstick, and expansive. The Monkey King is a visual delight and it successfully achieves its goal.

Stand-up comedian and Silicon Valley star, Jimmy O. Yang, takes on the role of the Monkey King and shines in his most prominent voiceover performance yet. Yang has been steadily rising in the industry for a few years now, having done voice acting in minor roles for American Dad and The Simpsons. In this film, he surprises viewers with his excellence, delivering well-timed punchlines and delivering gritty action dialogue. Jolie Haong-Rappaport, best known for a small role in Watchmen, brings depth and emotion to her character Lin. SNL alum Bowen Yang portrays the comically insecure and incompetent villain, the Dragon King. His performance is the standout, providing the film's only musical number. Overall, the cast is enjoyable and charming, without any weak links that would bring down the film.

The Monkey King, a feature-length adaptation of the initial seven chapters of Journey to the West, may surprise those who only know the story from Dragon Ball or animated summaries on YouTube. It's important to understand the structure of the original tale, which consists of 100 chapters. The first seven chapters delve into the Monkey King's early life, ascension to power, and subsequent downfall. Chapters 13-99 take readers on an episodic journey where the Monkey King accompanies a Buddhist monk on the titular journey. This storytelling choice unintentionally leads to some effects. One notable effect is that Monkey goes through the entire movie without learning his lesson, making him an insufferable, self-centered jerk for approximately 85 minutes out of the 90-minute runtime. This unlikable protagonist may turn off many viewers. Additionally, this choice of adaptation impacts the ending. Although those familiar with the story know how the film will conclude, the appearance of Tripitaka, Pigsy, and Sandy at the end, similar in weight to Nick Fury's cameo in Iron Man, can still be surprisingly silly. This may not resonate well with some viewers, especially if the studio plans to continue the story.

The Monkey King is a delightful animated action comedy that is sure to captivate children. Animation enthusiasts will appreciate the visually appealing character designs and seamless animation. While the film doesn't bring anything groundbreaking to the table or offer many fresh ideas, its minor writing issues and lack of innovation prevent it from reaching instant classic status. Nonetheless, The Monkey King is enjoyable and lighthearted, making it worth a watch. The Monkey King definitely deserves his crown, albeit a modest one, as he is already quite conceited.