In October, Jackie Chan (known as Thà nh Long in Vietnam) makes a grand return to the big screen with his latest action-comedy titled Panda Plan. The plot is relatively straightforward, featuring Thà nh Long as he takes on the main role of a character involved in rescuing a bear cub named Hu Hu from the clutches of a sinister Chinese tycoon.
With Thà nh Long’s immense global fame, Panda Plan has garnered considerable media attention, but the film itself appears to be a letdown, marking a stark contrast to the actor’s previous success in the film A Legend in July. Audiences have begun to acknowledge the decline of the 70-year-old martial arts superstar.
James Marsh from SCMP rated Panda Plan a mere 1 out of 5 stars, stating that the film is an entertainment piece that ultimately disappoints audiences. This sentiment is immediately reflected in the film’s closing disclaimer, which states, “No animals were harmed during the making of this film,†only to clarify that “All animals depicted are computer-generated.â€
According to critics, the disclaimer completely undermines the viewer’s ability to engage with the film. It’s challenging to imagine a film that leans heavily on CGI, especially when the art of martial arts is so prominent.
Not only does the CGI fail to impress, but Thà nh Long’s character is also painfully one-dimensional. Throughout the film, the iconic star appears to be meek and lacking the charisma that has defined his career, while also relying heavily on the oversized bear cub as comic relief. However, by the end, Panda Plan attempts to portray Thà nh Long as a heroic figure who, despite his age, continues to protect the “fake” bear cub.
“As Thà nh Long enters his 70s, he has moved into a different chapter of his career, where his public image is becoming increasingly muddled,†Marsh notes. In Panda Plan, the veteran actor takes on the lead role while other characters primarily support him, as if they were merely there to bolster the aging star,†he adds.
In the film, Thà nh Long’s martial arts prowess is also overshadowed. The action sequences are choreographed in a way that feels detached, with the climax lacking the intensity and engagement expected from a martial arts film. The battles are depicted in an overly simplistic manner, showcasing a disconnect between the main character and his group of hired fighters.
One peculiar detail is that instead of rescuing Hu Hu, Thà nh Long appears to place himself in danger along with the other characters. The action sequences could have been more engaging if Hu Hu were an actual bear rather than a computer-generated image, which has more than 700 million online followers as a character introduction. However, to the viewers, it merely comes off as pixelated amalgamation designed poorly.
A review on Casey’s Movie Mania awarded Panda Plan a score of 2.5 out of 5 stars. The author noted that this film marks another significant disappointment for Thà nh Long following his attempts to redeem himself in Ride On and the disaster that was A Legend.
The film features a few of Thà nh Long’s signature comedic elements, but they are minimal and become increasingly tiresome. The author suggests that the film could have benefited from a shorter run time of 99 minutes instead of stretching to 1 hour and 39 minutes. As for the actors, aside from Thà nh Long, many of them do not contribute much to the overall experience.
Jim Morazzini from Voices From The Balcony remarked that the film is safe and overly simplistic, suitable for children’s entertainment but likely to leave adults feeling bored. The biggest letdown of the film is the lack of character development, which fails to create any sense of connection with the main heroic character. The action sequences, while attempting to be thrilling, often feel stagnant due to the reliance on special effects rather than genuine martial arts skill.
On the popular review site IMDb, Panda Plan only scores 6.1/10. Common opinions suggest the film is primarily targeted at a younger audience, featuring familiar tropes of heroic characters and could potentially attract viewers from China, but it is unlikely to compete in the broader market.
