What’s It About

In 1980s Hollywood, struggling martial arts actor Johnny Cage searches for his missing co-star amidst a Los Angeles filled with bloodthirsty fighters.

MOVIESinMO REVIEW

“Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match” is such a stark contrast in terms of tone and style compared to the previous films of this animated series that it almost seems like a completely different franchise. This fourth installment that came out in 2023, moves away from the serious, dark atmosphere of the earlier movies and, instead, indulges in the comedy of 1980s action movie tropes and self-aware humor. Turning the whole film into a Johnny Cage (arguably the most humorous character in the Mortal Kombat roster) adventure, the movie basically tells the viewers from the very first frame of the opening credits that they should not expect the brutal violence and the emotional depth that was the hallmark of “Scorpion’s Revenge” Whether this tonal shift succeeds is entirely up to each individual viewer. The plot is set before the events of the previous movies and thus works as a prequel that narrates Johnny Cage’s life before he got involved in the tournament. We get to know him as a struggling action movie star who has gained some fame but is losing popularity, and his personal life is going downhill. His marriage is breaking apart, his career looks like it is going to go nowhere beyond mediocre movies, and his ego is what constantly gets him into trouble. When he is recruited for what he thinks is just another movie role, he finds out that the supernatural threats are real, and therefore, he has to prove that he is a real fighter, not just a guy who plays one on the screen. This arrangement gives the film the opportunity to ridicule the Hollywood culture, the action movie clichés, and Johnny Cage’s grossly inflated self-importance. As a gamer who knew the character of Johnny Cage through the Mortal Kombat series, I must say I was quite refreshed with the manner in which they treated him here after the previous three films, which were all very serious in tone. Johnny has always been the comic relief in the games, the character who cracks jokes during fatalities and doesn’t take things as seriously as the other fighters in the arena. It is absolutely logical to the point of obviousness to make a whole movie around his character since he already has enough personality to carry a film on his own. There are a number of scenes in the movie that would bring a smile to the face of a veteran fan, such as his infamous split punch to the crotch, his sunglasses, which he never seems to lose even during the most brutal fights, and his habit of signing autographs at the most inappropriate moments. The animation style is quite different from the previous ones, somewhat less realistic and a bit more caricature-like, which suits the lighter tone better. The characters are drawn with less detail and more exaggeration, and Johnny’s expressions vary from cocky confidence to total panic depending on the situation. The colors are far more saturated and vivid than the rather dull colors of “Snow Blind” or even the balanced approach of “Scorpion’s Revenge. ” While the choreography of the fight scenes remains up to the series’ standard, the violence is somewhat toned down. The fatalities still happen, but they are often played for laughs rather than to shock the audience. This makes the film less mature than the previous ones and thus could be more appealing to younger viewers who found the earlier movies too intense. The voice acting especially deserves to be singled out for commendation, and this is particularly true for Joel McHale, who is back as Johnny Cage. McHale evidently knows the character inside out and throws the lines with impeccable humor and sparkle. He makes Johnny simultaneously irritating and nice, which is exactly what the character demands. So, you see why other characters find him a nuisance, at the same time, you also witness the real bravery and good heart under all the show, off. Besides Jennifer Grey playing Johnny’s wife, Cris, the supporting cast is rather thin, and their relationship serves as the emotional core that keeps the film from becoming an entirely surface-level comedy. The struggles in their marriage feel authentic, even though the absurd supernatural situations keep on coming around them. On the other hand, the emphasis on comedy makes this film incompatible with the expectations of those who look for a traditional Mortal Kombat experience. The film devotes a lot of time to Hollywood satire, relationship drama, and fish-out-of-water humor when Johnny discovers the existence of the supernatural world. These aspects are quite good for a character study, but they leave little room for the fighting in the tournament and the realm, threatening stakes, which are the trademark of the franchise. Some other characters from the games, whom you might recognize, show up for a very short time, or are there just in brief cameos. The fans who are looking forward to the ensemble action with their favorite fighters will be quite disappointed by how little the movie has to do with Mortal Kombat as a whole and how much it revolves specifically around Johnny. Without considering the point of view of a gamer, “Cage Match” might be a better piece than most other entries in this series. The plot does not burden the viewer with the need for a deep knowledge of Mortal Kombat lore, tournament rules, or complicated mythology about different realms. One who has never played the games can see this as a simple story of an arrogant actor who is put in his place when real danger arrives. The setting in Hollywood and the marriage subplot offer the casual viewers some common ground. The humor is aimed at a general audience rather than being fan-centric jokes that only a handful of insiders can understand. A person who is not a part of the franchise may consider it an entertaining action comedy, although they may miss some of the deeper character references. Speaking as a Black viewer, I found this movie to be a continuation of the same diversity and related problems as previous episodes. The main characters are mostly whites, with Johnny, his wife, and the majority of the supporting roles played by non-Black actors. The film does not fall into the trap of using stereotypes and treats all its characters with respect, but the shortage of substantial Black representation is still quite disappointing. There are characters like Jax who are Black and are part of the Mortal Kombat universe, and hence, could have been a great addition to this story, but the choice of making it solely a Johnny Cage adventure meant few opportunities for the diverse casting. The way the movie represents its female characters is a mixed bag. Cris is shown as smart, strong, and not just a trophy for Johnny to win back. She has genuine complaints about their marriage and is not willing to accept his shallow apologies. On the contrary, she mostly serves to facilitate Johnny’s character growth, rather than having her own complete arc. The film barely meets the minimum requirement of female characters who converse about things other than men. Most of the female characters are primarily defined by their relationships with Johnny and have not been given the autonomy of setting their own goals and having their own motivations. The pacing of “Cage Match” is not consistent, and the flow of events is quite bumpy throughout the film. A great deal of time is taken up in the first act to introduce Johnny’s Hollywood lifestyle and marital woes, which might be a bit of a drag for those who have come solely for the fighting and fatalities. Things get lively in the middle section when the story takes a supernatural turn, and Johnny has to come to terms with the new reality. The last act is full of the kind of action and high stakes one would expect from a finale, though, by that time, some viewers might have already disengaged. Much like other films in the series, the movie has a running time of around eighty minutes, but it is more heavily weighted towards character development rather than action and is thus quite different from the previous installments. The comedy in this movie is a matter of personal taste and will be appreciated by some but not by others. Some jokes cleverly poke fun at action movie conventions and Hollywood excess in ways that feel fresh and entertaining. At the same time, there are instances when the humor falls short, and these rely too much on the audience finding Johnny’s obnoxiousness amusing to get their laughs. Due to the self-aware nature of the humor, the movie keeps reminding the audience that it is being silly, which can either contribute to the fun or break the immersion, depending on each individual’s preference. Considering the movie through various critical lenses leads to different evaluations of its quality. The lighter, comedy focused nature of the movie shows creative courage and an understanding of the character of Johnny Cage, but it gives up too much of what makes Mortal Kombat unique. The absence of tournament scenes, the few instances in which other fighters appear, and the lessened focus on the brutality of the combat make this film sound more like a spinoff with the use of Mortal Kombat characters rather than a new installment in the series. The simplified plot, the funny tone, and the emphasis on the characters instead of the lore make it more agreeable to those who are not already familiar with the series, and in this capacity, it works quite well as a standalone action comedy. “Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match” works as a departure from the norm that is an experimental success, but on the other hand, it is not able to provide the majority of what the fans expect from the franchise. It shows that sometimes the outcome of taking risks and doing something different is not necessarily better than just sticking with what already works.

OUR RATING – A FAIRLY COMEDIC 5

MEDIA

• Genre – Video Game

Street date

• Digital – October 16, 2023
• 4K/BluRay/DVD – October 16, 2023
• Video – 1080p
• Screen size 1.78:1
• Sound – English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Subtitles – English SDH, French, Spanish

Extras

• What Would Johnny Cage Do? (featurette) – Step inside the VO Booth with Joel McHale and Jennifer Grey and go behind the scenes with the filmmakers to learn the challenges they withstood to bring Johnny Cage’s 80s action film to life.
• Ninja Mime Trailer – Relive the trailer for the greatest 80s action film ever made: NINJA MIME!
• Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match Audio Commentary – Join Producers Rick Morales and Jim Krieg and Screenwriter Jeremy Adams on an audio adventure recounting the totally tubular tale of bringing Johnny Cage’s 80s awesomeness to life.