“Ken at least gets two big tournament brawls… But then there are the fights that are completely kept offscreen to a maddening extent.”

The tournament narrative is further muddled by a series of forfeits orchestrated by Bison. Captured and listed as a dropout, Ryu’s absence allows Joe (Alexander Volkanovski) to advance without lifting a finger, culminating in an anticlimactic final where Ken, preoccupied with rescuing Ryu, fails to appear. This results in Joe being declared the champion without a single fight, a development that might amuse long-time fans familiar with Joe’s minor role in the games but offers little to the uninitiated.

The film’s climax is weighed down by multiple antagonists, including Bison, Akuma (Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i), and the threat of Evil Ryu. After Akuma kills Joe, he provokes Ryu into battling by tapping into his darker instincts. With Bison observing from the stands, Ryu’s transformation into Evil Ryu is visually marked by his gi turning black. However, the resolution is surprisingly swift: Ken’s newfound ability to perform a Hadouken restores Ryu to his senses with one powerful strike. Despite the buildup, the confrontation with Bison is postponed, leaving viewers without the anticipated showdown.

“Ken’s Hadouken is so special that just the one apparently was enough to turn Evil Ryu good again right away.”

The film concludes abruptly, with Ken, Ryu, Chun-Li, and Dan Hibiki (Andrew Schulz) hitchhiking after their van is destroyed by Cammy (Mel Jarnson). They are picked up by Guile and Dhalsim (Vidyut Jammwal), who were also supposedly working against Bison, though their efforts are unseen. The six characters squeeze into a small car, singing “It’s Raining Men” as they drive into the credits—a peculiar ending that leaves numerous plot threads unresolved, including the teased rivalry between Chun-Li and Cammy.

A mid-credit animated scene revisits Ryu’s past victory over Sagat, showing a scarred Sagat training before Bison and his henchmen appear, hinting at Sagat’s potential role in a sequel. This sequence cleverly sets the stage for future developments while allowing flexibility in casting for any follow-up films.

While Street Fighter attempts to weave complex narratives and character arcs, its execution feels disjointed, with significant storylines left dangling. The film’s reliance on sequel potential over delivering a self-contained story may frustrate audiences seeking closure. As the franchise looks to future installments, addressing these narrative gaps could prove crucial for its success.

Article Source: www.ign.com

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