Director Kitao Sakurai’s new film adaptation of Street Fighter delivers plenty of 1990s nostalgia but it ultimately devolves into a disjointed and chaotic mess.
Based on Capcom's iconic video game franchise, the story centers on estranged martial artists Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo). After an anime flashback detailing the death of their master and the plot jumps to 1993 as a sprawling cast of fighters gathers for the World Warrior Tournament.
The ensemble includes Callina Liang as Chun-Li, Jason Momoa as the CGI-generated Blanka, Cody Rhodes as Guile, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson as Balrog and David Dastmalchian as the villainous M. Bison.
Instead of focusing on martial arts action the script leans heavily on convoluted subplot drama. Sakurai films nearly every interaction like a battle also yet the audience rarely understands why the characters are fighting. Rather than highlighting the tournament itself and the narrative gets bogged down in M. Bison’s scheme to harness Ryu’s power to expand his own control.
The film relies on campy humor 1990s pop tracks like "2 Legit 2 Quit" and self-aware cameos. However its outdated visual tone and scattered character focus make it feel like a step backward for video game adaptations. Choppy editing, abrupt pacing and uninspired dialogue further undermine the viewing experience with leading into an unearned setup for a sequel.
Street Fighter offers brief flashes of energy through its cast but it lacks coherent storytelling and structured fight choreography. For moviegoers seeking a compelling action film or a faithful video game adaptation also this release falls short of expectations.
