What would happen if you took the digitally animated
creatures from nearly any Disney or Pixar film and inserted them into a martial
arts flick with a touch of comedy added in for good measure? You’d get one heck
of a fun movie is what. And it’s already been made, ready for viewing!
Made in China, MONTER HUNT tells the story of an ancient
history when monsters and man lived side by side at one time. Fearful of the
monsters man drove them out to a land all their own required never to return.
But something is happening and the monsters are slowly crossing back into our
world.
A civil war has broken out among the monsters. The monster
queen is with child and the evil monsters are quickly tracking her down. Aided
by a several good monsters, she heads to the world of man in the hopes of
finding sanctuary there for her and her child. But the odds are against her as
humans still fear the monsters and monster hunters track them down for the
bounty on them.
Enter Song Tianyin, the harmless mayor of a small town on
the fringe of the separation between these two worlds. Brow beaten by his aunts
he seems less a leader and more a follower. But somehow the queen lands up in
his hut and sends her unborn child into him before dying. We now have a
pregnant man! At the same time a female monster hunter has shown in the area
named Huo Xiaolan. But rather than harm the child she helps Song deal with his
“pregnancy” and then protect the child.
The two are off on an adventure that will find them followed
by both monsters and monster hunters. Along the way they’ll get assistance from
two fairly comedic monsters who were the protectors of the queen and now this
new monster child. Yes the child, Wuba, is born and that leads to problems as
well since it is a newborn and curious. Along the way both monster and human
villains will unite to try and kill the child. But some things are just not
what they seem and heroes will rise in the most unlikely places.
There are strengths and weaknesses in the film but that
never stopped it from being a huge money maker in China. It was the highest
grossing film in history in that country until the release of THE MERMAID in
2016. It’s easy to see why as the film offers plenty for everyone, from
children to adults alike.
Perhaps the weakest part of the film is the monsters
themselves. None are particularly frightening, the main character of Wuba
looking more like a cross between a plant and the Pillsbury doughboy. Even the
dangerous monsters aren’t all that scary. But perhaps that’s a good thing when
you consider that small children are the target audience for films like these.
At the same time there is plenty to keep adults interested as well.
To begin with the best parts of the film are the interaction
between the two lead characters. It’s a nice role reversal here with the woman
being the stronger fighter of the two and the man more the comedic foil for all
that goes on. While at odds with one another when they first meet a mutual
attraction develops. Perhaps this isn’t a rom com but that element is there in
small part.
The action and martial arts moments in the film are fun to
watch. The wire work on display is fascinating and entertains at all times. The
special effects are well done and not overused. But best of all is that all of
these elements combine to make an entertaining and fun movie to watch. And for
those who hate subtitles don’t fear, the film is dubbed. This is one that the
whole family can enjoy together and one I highly recommend.
Click here to order.
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