FILM
NE ZHA 2
★★★
OUT NOW / CERT 12A / 144 MINS
DIRECTOR Jiao Zi
CAST Lü Yanting, Han Mo, Lü Qi, Zhang Jiaming
The rise and rise of the Chinese animation Ne Zha 2 is mythically impressive: it is now the fifth highest-grossing film of all time. For the uninitiated, it can be a dizzying affair, winning no points for coherence or economy of storytelling. The tale follows Ne Zha (Lü Yanting), a super-powered demon who must share his body with his frenemy from the first film, Ao Bing (Han Mo). The film’s eccentric sense of humour walks a tonal tightrope between high-fantasy pomposity and wacky hijinks. Yet it is also operating on a scale rarely seen. At once awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, eye-rolling and head-scratching, it doesn’t always hang together, but Ne Zha 2 has earned a place with the immortals.