The Tiger’s Apprentice starts at breakneck speed and does not let up. Tom’s introduction is quick; he’s funny, a little dorky, cares for Grandma, and then suddenly blasts the bully with magic energy. He likes Räv and is sometimes at odds with Hu, though it’s not always explained why. Despite the fast introduction, you always root for Tom. The story is very Spider-Man-inspired, as the lead is very Peter Parker-esque. Heck, there’s a clear “Uncle Ben” moment, and even some action sequences borrow from everyone’s favorite Webhead. It’s an origin story we’ve seen before, yet those qualities make Tom endearing. The story of an orphan with extraordinary powers may not be new, but it is no less enticing.
The first act is the strongest. It introduces a whole world of ancient magic, yet the exposition feels organic, and the action furthers the characters. Hui, Duk Jhun, and Watling create a magical world with little elements of family comedy. The Tiger’s Apprentice loses its way in the second act, attempting to steer completely into family comedy. The shift from mystic martial arts film to full-on comedy is slightly jarring. The film has many pieces of a solid martial arts film, family-centered comedy, and superhero narrative, but it needs a more cohesive tone for the overall story. Ultimately, kids will enjoy Tom’s high-kicking odyssey, but it needs the same vision that Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem had in their creation to transcend the genre.
Henry Golding as Hu and Sandra Oh as Mistral in The Tiger’s Apprentice, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Paramount+.
“The cast is exceptional…”
The cast is exceptional, with Goulding, Liu, Oh, Lewis, Soo Hoo, and Yeoh all giving excellent performances. Even with such a fast-paced film, each character has at least some time to shine, a massive credit to the voice actors. Yeoh adds wisdom and malice to the Grandma-killing witch. Oh shows her whimsical yet cool side as the dragon Mistral. Soo Hoo gives confidence and just enough angst to convince the audience that Tom is the next guardian. Goulding is believable as the cocky Hu and Lewis shines. The cast is a high point, elevating the narrative and adding extra personality to each character.
The filmmakers behind The Tiger’s Apprentice have an excellent opening and an even better premise. The film runs just over 70 minutes (excluding credits) and, in more ways than one, seems like the launch of a kids-to-early pre-teens series. Tom fights the forces of darkness in a Saturday morning series, a la Jackie Chan Adventures or American Dragon: Jake Long; a 10-year-old me would love such a show. But as a film, it needs more time to explore the story, build the world, develop characters, and create tension, all of which could happen if/when they make this a streaming series.
The Tiger’s Apprentice is streaming on Paramount+.
"…kids will enjoy Tom's high-kicking odyssey..."
