Street Fighter movie review: Fun for fans

The game references are woven into the action as well as the character designs. Guile showed off his signature Flash Kick; E. Honda has his Hundred Hand Slap and even Ken got to perform his “Hell Wheel” throw – twice. The film knows that fans will be waiting for these moves, and it gives them room to register rather than rushing past them. Admittedly, they can look a little daft in live action, but I suspect that was purposely done so as part of the fun.

Some of the smaller character moments work better than the grander parts of the story though. When Ken and Ryu meet again, their reunion turns into a scrappy fight that plays up their history without needing a long explanation. I don’t want to spoil it but it was one of the standout parts of the movie as it gives the two leads a little room to show who they are beyond their place in the tournament. I would have liked more scenes with that kind of energy, where the film lets the characters’ differences create the entertainment.

Special shoutout goes to Callina too, who gives a strong physical presence as Chun-Li (yes, her trademark Spinning Bird Kick and Hundred Lightning Kicks are glorious to watch) and , and the character’s directness is useful whenever the men around her start treating every disagreement like a grand statement about honour. She is often the one who cuts through the melodrama.

The film’s camp is also helped along by its ’90s setting. The pop songs (a proper Now That’s What I Call Music compilation), the costumes and the general air of excess make this feel like a movie that has wandered in from the same decade as the arcade games. It is not subtle, and the humour can be hit and miss, but the dated touches give the film a personality of its own. The animated flashbacks were also a wonderful surprise, and I pray and hope Capcom turns those into an animated series one day.

There are times when Street Fighter feels as if it is trying to have it both ways: acknowledging how silly its characters and story are, while still wanting viewers to take their conflicts seriously. The plot gets tangled, and the constant stream of introductions and references can make the tournament itself feel less important than it should. But I did not need every part of the story to come together for the film to be entertaining. I was happy to see familiar characters, moves and bits of lore brought into a live-action setting that does not seem embarrassed by them.

If you want a tightly plotted martial arts film, this is not it. Street Fighter is messy, and its campy all-round action will not be enjoyed by everyone. But it understands that the games are colourful and a little absurd, and it has fun with that instead of trying to sand it down. For fans, there is plenty to spot and enjoy; even when the story fumbles, because just like the game, Street Fighter wants you to watch it for the action – not the plot.

Street Fighter is now out in cinemas.