Reviews
Ne Zha II
You’d be forgiven for not having heard of Ne Zha II, given its limited release in Western markets. Yet without much fuss, it quietly became the highest-grossing animated film of all time and one of the top five highest-grossing movies overall, surpassing over $2 billion worldwide. A24 has since released an English-dubbed version to relatively modest success, but that doesn’t diminish the original movie’s undoubted quality.
There’s a solid foundation here, and Tim Story’s The Pickup had real potential, especially with this cast. A full-tilt comedy or a sharp, stylish action movie could have worked, but by trying to juggle both tones, the film ends up delivering neither. It would be easy to point the anger at screenwriters Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows for The Pickup’s downfall. The dialogue is consistently clunky, and the film shows little faith in its audience, relying heavily on exposition dumps to explain every plot detail instead of letting the story unfold naturally. But the blame doesn’t rest solely with the writers, the cast often looks like they’d rather be anywhere else; you’d still expect more from a trio as talented as Murphy, Palmer, and Davidson. Instead, all three deliver performances that feel disengaged, as if they’re just going through the motions.
Written and directed by Jiaozi, Ne Zha II continues the mythic saga of Ne Zha, a demon child from Chinese folklore whose story began in the largely overlooked but emotionally rich original film. Given the exposition-heavy nature of that first movie, a recap is essential viewing before diving into the sequel. Without that vital context, audiences may find themselves a bit lost as they’re thrown straight into the epic scope of Ne Zha II. The sequel’s storyline can also be dense at times and often moves at breakneck speed. At its core, the film follows Ne Zha (Crystal Lee), a child whose soul was split from the demonic half of a divine pearl and raised on Earth by two respected generals. The other, heavenly half of the pearl became Ao Bing (Aleks Le), who was raised by dragons. After Ao Bing’s physical body is destroyed, his father, the Dragon King (Christopher Swindle), wages war in retaliation. A ceasefire is brokered on the condition that Ne Zha ascends to heaven and completes three trials to become immortal, thereby earning an elixir that could restore Ao Bing to life.
The major selling point of Ne Zha II is its astounding visuals. Few animated films have ever left me as awestruck as this one; for most of its runtime, I was completely captivated. The action sequences, of which there are plenty, are vibrant, dynamic, and jaw-droppingly beautiful. By the end, my only disappointment was that it was over; I could’ve watched for hours more just to take in the sheer artistry on display
The first half of the movie, focused on the trials, takes its time reintroducing the characters with a slow but methodical approach. The trials themselves are entertaining, peppered with the potty humor that was evident in the original film, but somehow, it works. However, when an unexpected death occurs during these trials, the film suddenly accelerates, building toward one of the most memorable third acts you’re likely to see this year.The climax erupts into a whirlwind of chaos, thunderous explosions, and jaw-dropping action sequences as two armies clash under extraordinary circumstances. Every battle feels visceral and intense, pulling the audience right into the heart of the conflict. This electrifying final act is not only a feast for the eyes but also an emotional payoff that makes the film’s slow start worthwhile. The last scenes alone justify seeing Ne Zha II on the biggest screen possible.
Ne Zha II offers thrilling entertainment for both children and adults, striking a balance between stunning visuals and compelling storytelling. It would be only fitting for the film to receive some deserved recognition during awards season and not just in the Best Animated Feature category, but across the board for its artistic and technical achievements.
