Disney's first fully Chinese production is mildly amusing, but Centro's work isn't as groundbreaking as they probably hoped it would be. Still, it's not a bad way for the kids to spend 80 minutes.
The first Chinese Walt Disney film, The Magic Gourd is a co-production with Hong Kong computer effects firm Centro (as well as the China Film Group, whose head recently called for more "ethically inspiring movies") that's even co-directed by its founder John Chu. At the risk of rendering the following review worthless, I admit that there are at least two types of movies that are truly critic-proof: idol movies and Disney movies. It wouldn't be fair to critically analyze The Magic Gourd because the filmmakers obviously put pleasing the kids at a higher priority than being artistically successful. So perhaps the film would be best judged in the perspective of an adult who might have to sit through this bland hybrid of Aladdin and your typical Chinese special effects extravaganza.
Based on a classic Chinese children's novel, the live-action flick is about bumbling young kid Wang Bo (just the first in a bunch of two-letter names typical in Mainland Chinese films), whose daydreaming habits have made him a bit of a failure in both his academic and social lives. Falling asleep after hearing his grandmother tell the story of a wish-granting gourd - this is important because they have to reassure you that such mystical creatures cannot be real in Mainland Chinese films - Wang Bo dreams of going to the lake nearby to fish. Instead, he pulls said magic gourd out of the water. With the promise of having every wish come true without having to do an ounce of work, Wang immediately becomes the gourd's master.
The first Chinese Walt Disney film, The Magic Gourd is a co-production with Hong Kong computer effects firm Centro (as well as the China Film Group, whose head recently called for more "ethically inspiring movies") that's even co-directed by its founder John Chu. At the risk of rendering the following review worthless, I admit that there are at least two types of movies that are truly critic-proof: idol movies and Disney movies. It wouldn't be fair to critically analyze The Magic Gourd because the filmmakers obviously put pleasing the kids at a higher priority than being artistically successful. So perhaps the film would be best judged in the perspective of an adult who might have to sit through this bland hybrid of Aladdin and your typical Chinese special effects extravaganza.
Based on a classic Chinese children's novel, the live-action flick is about bumbling young kid Wang Bo (just the first in a bunch of two-letter names typical in Mainland Chinese films), whose daydreaming habits have made him a bit of a failure in both his academic and social lives. Falling asleep after hearing his grandmother tell the story of a wish-granting gourd - this is important because they have to reassure you that such mystical creatures cannot be real in Mainland Chinese films - Wang Bo dreams of going to the lake nearby to fish. Instead, he pulls said magic gourd out of the water. With the promise of having every wish come true without having to do an ounce of work, Wang immediately becomes the gourd's master.