This Friday, February 2, the powerful animal avatars of the Chinese Zodiac leap from the pages of Laurence Yep’s modern mythological novel trilogy onto Paramount+ screens in The Tiger’s Apprentice.
The CG animated family fantasy adventure, directed by Raman Hui (Monster Hunt; co-director, Shrek the Third), follows a Chinese American teen (voiced by Brandon Soo Hoo) as he discovers his destiny as part of a long lineage of magical protectors known as the Guardians. Guided by a transforming tiger (Henry Golding), he trains to take on a powerful foe (Michelle Yeoh) and reunite the 12 warrior animals of the Zodiac. The voice cast features a parade of notable Asian and Asian-American actors, including Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh, Bowen Yang, Leah Lewis and Jo Koy.
While early reviews don’t distinguish the adaptation as the most powerful release of the new year, strong voice performances, some inspired action sequences and Hui’s loving recreation of its San Francisco setting, overall positive reviews show that this martial arts tale still packs a magical punch. The Tiger’s Apprentice rates 67% on the Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes, from 15 critics’ reviews, with a MetaScore of 62 on MetaCritic (four reviews).
Here’s what a few of them had to say:
“While the convoluted fantasy elements may make some older viewers’ eyes glaze over, the film fortunately features generous doses of welcome irreverent humor … The powerhouse voice cast is another plus … Director Raman Hui, making his [animated] feature [solo directing] debut, keeps the proceedings moving at a suitably brisk pace, with the colorful CGI animation providing one diverting image after another.”
— Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
“This perky, likable but profoundly derivative animated feature arrives just in time for both lunar new year and the February half-term school holidays. Like a shop-bought char siu bao, it’s over-sweetened but moreish: Chinese-flavored comfort food in cinematic form.”
— Leslie Felperin, The Guardian
“Props to the makers of The Tiger’s Apprentice for opening on the Bay Bridge, as opposed to the sexier Golden Gate Bridge … The film gives us an animated look at the “crookedest street in the world,” the green Sentinel Building, recognizable Chinatown storefronts, the historic Dragon Gate and the Golden Gate Bridge (every San Francisco-set film gets there eventually) and climaxes with a battle for the soul of humanity atop the Transamerica Pyramid. The film itself? It’s breezy fun and not much more than that, but with an all-star voice cast.”
— G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
“The animation is less surefooted at the start in a prologue set in Hong Kong, but it quickly improves when the action shifts to San Francisco, gloriously re-created. The vocal cast is mighty impressive … Originally slated for a theatrical release, this one got bounced to Paramount+. That’s great for parents, in particular Asian American parents, looking for a fun family feature that celebrates culture. But this feature would have been perfect viewing on the big screen.”
— Randy Myers, The Mercury News
