I had absolutely no idea what Street Fighter was about. The only things I knew were that it was based on a video game and Noah Centineo was in it.
Noah captured every teenage girl’s heart in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, then went low-key, doing a few movies here and there, so I was honestly interested in seeing him on screen again in Street Fighter, and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.
The intro starts with a quick backstory of Ryu and Ken Masters and how they became friends, and it’s fully animated. It looked so much like a manga, or maybe the video game itself (I haven’t played it, so idk if the actual video game fans liked it, but I did!).
Every time it flashes back to their younger days, the movie switches back to this animated style, and the transitions are so seamless. Honestly, I was already impressed within the first few minutes.
Everyone’s acting was great, and there were so many hilarious moments, despite the whole “we have to fight the devil” vibe. The characters had such a fun dynamic, and the movie never took itself too seriously, which I absolutely loved. Everyone brought something different to the table, and the character interactions made it even more entertaining.
And the action was stunning! The fight scenes genuinely felt like they’d come straight out of a video game, with all the over-the-top moves and energy. It was so much fun to watch, and I can only imagine how cool it must be for people who actually grew up playing the games.
The whole movie also felt set in the late ’90s or early 2000s, which I’m assuming is around when the video game blew up (don’t trust me on this, guys; this is purely my assumption lol). The soundtrack was great and added to that nostalgic vibe. Everything about the movie just felt chaotic and fun.
I also loved the looks, especially Ken Masters. He’s basically at the heart of pop culture in this movie, and the whole aesthetic worked so well for him. Even the supporting cast had their own unique styles and personalities, and everyone felt like they had a role to play rather than just being in the background.
The story was good too: it follows long-lost street fighters Ryu and Ken, who trained under the same master, and are thrown back into combat when Chun-Li recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament. Behind the fighting is another evil motive that forces them to face each other and/or the demons.
I enjoyed Street Fighter, went in knowing next to nothing, and came out having had a great time. I can’t wait for the next part to see how it all ends!
If you’re looking for a fun movie, especially if you’re into video games, action, or early-2000s pop culture, I’d recommend giving this one a go.
Our Rating – 4/5
