…And introducing Chris Klein as Charlie Nash
Greg Ford and I went to see “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li” on Friday.
The good news: it isn’t boring. That was my greatest fear walking in – that this would be sullen and dull, in the same way that DOOM was (same director, by the way). No, this one keeps your interest throughout. The martial arts sequences aren’t mind-blowing, but they do the job, and Kristen Kruek is credible as Chun-Li… she can play tough, and I think she rivals Jessica Alba as the hottest actress working today.
But the real jewel is Chris Klein, playing Guile’s buddy Charlie Nash (first game appearance: Street Fighter Alpha). He delivers an outrageous performance, easily out-hamming John Turturro in “Transformers”. Every line of his is cringe inducing, and the film is actually better for it – he turns the film into a legitimate guilty pleasure. The best part is that you really don’t know if Chris Klein is deliberately chewing up the scenery, or if he really thinks he’s passing as a grizzled street cop.
In the pantheon of video game movies, I’d say it sits above anything Uwe Boll, Double Dragon, and Super Mario Bros, and below the original Street Fighter: The Movie, Mortal Kombat, and Tomb Raider. So take that as you will. As a fan of the games looking for some disposable entertainment, I was suitably amused. And yes, Chun-Li performs her signature Spinning Bird Kick.
I wouldn’t mind seeing it, but I’m not really in a big rush. And you might want to take away my Man card for this, but I find Jessica Alba average at best, a 5 or 6 out of 10. That’s right, I said it.
Cool! Nothing gets you in the 1vs1 combat mood like a cheesy half-assed tie-in movie! \:D/
i just thought that Kristine Kreuk is too pretty to be Chun Li in the movie Legend Of Chun Li `
the actress that portrayed Chun Li is super beautiful, she really fits the role ~`;