Street Fighter Review: Even David Dastmalchian Can’t Save This Incoherent Action Movie
The review describes the new Street Fighter film as an incoherent action movie that struggles to settle on a tone. David Dastmalchian’s flamboyant turn as villain M. Bison stands out, but the reviewer says the film’s serious story about Ryu and Ken is underdeveloped and sits awkwardly alongside its camp humour.
The film opens with an animated flashback to a tournament in Thailand, then moves to the early 1990s, where Ryu and Ken are drawn into a new contest announced by Bison. Its fights feel heavy and sometimes entertaining, though they rarely deliver the signature moves and spectacular combinations associated with the games. The supplied article text ends mid-sentence, but its overall assessment is strongly negative.
- Dastmalchian’s M. Bison is the standout performance.
- The film’s drama and camp humour clash.
- The fights are solid but lack the games’ signature flair.
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Street Fighter is a film based on a long-running series of fighting video games. The games centre on martial artists who travel the world to compete, with characters such as Ryu and Ken at the heart of the story.
The film’s villain is M. Bison, a powerful figure who organises a fighting contest. David Dastmalchian plays Bison, while Ryu and Ken are drawn into the tournament and its conflict.
The series is known for colourful characters, exaggerated combat and distinctive special moves. A film adaptation has to balance that playful style with a coherent story, which can shape how it works for viewers unfamiliar with the games.