'Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match (2023)' is the latest in a series of animated movies showcasing the origins of various characters from the 'Mortal Kombat' universe. It's interesting because these films all seem to contradict one another, which makes the 'Legends' part of their title all the more apt because there's a sense that these stories have been passed down through the generations and exist to expand upon the legacies of important in-universe figures. They're almost like bedtime stories within this world, and whether or not they're factual is irrelevant to their function as folk lore. On a more practical level, the fact that these features aren't beholden to each other allows the filmmakers to go all-out with their individual efforts. The stories pretty much all work as standalone features, despite their shared characters and casts, and it's quite refreshing that you don't have to be totally immersed in a specific series of pre-existing stories simply to engage with them.
This latest effort focuses on loud-mouthed, JCVD-based Johnny Cage and depicts his rise from D-list actor to saviour of the world (and back to B-list actor). With only a handful of characters from the 'Mortal Kombat' universe (at least that I recognised), this feels far less connected to its wider canon than the other entries in its series. It's also easily the least effective of those experiences, largely because the first fifteen minutes or so are almost unbearably on the nose and cheesy. Thankfully, things do improve once the plot is properly underway and you've gotten used to the cocky lead character's bad jokes and propensity to pause the picture to speak directly to the audience (in many ways, he's like a less funny version of Deadpool). Cage has never been my favourite 'Mortal Kombat' character, but his presence as a side character is more than welcome in the other 'Legends' pictures. As the protagonist, he's a bit grating and also a bit bland. Joel McHale does a good job voicing him, though. He does exactly what he needs to and it's clear that the film wouldn't have been as enjoyable without him. Gilbert Gottfried gives one of his last performances and is entertaining as a foul-mouthed producer with something to hide, while Jennifer Grey surprises by playing an evil version of herself who has risen to Hollywood stardom by nefarious means. Other notable names in the cast include Kelly Hu, Phil LaMarr, Matthew Mercer, Zehra Fazal, Robin Atkin Downes and Dusan Brown, each of whom turn in dependable work.
The flick pushes for a stereotypically 80s aesthetic by soaking its wavy hair, shoulder pads and too-big suits in bright neon hues, ensuring almost every scene is backlit by some sort of comically unsubtle colour that typically has no basis in the scene itself. The visuals are reminiscent of a Saturday morning cartoon, which is what makes the violence all the more jarring (even though this one is considerably less explicit than its predecessors). The action scenes are mostly exciting and engaging, even if some of the animation struggles to keep up with the pace and dynamism necessary for this type of choreography to work as well as it possibly can. In addition to its frequent (and expected) fighting, the film has a fair few moments that are actually pretty funny. Comedy is quite a large part of the affair and, while much of it falls flat, the infrequent moments that make you laugh go a long way in making the movie as enjoyable as it ultimately is. It helps that it's mostly a well-paced experience that doesn't have any notably baggy segments.
In the end, this is a solid animated action-comedy with strong voice work and some humorous moments. The fight scenes are entertaining and the narrative, while incredibly generic, keeps you engaged throughout the brisk runtime. It's the least effective of its series, but it's still a fair bit of fun.
