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Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Game-based animated comedy has strong violence, language.
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Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match
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What's the Story?
In MORTAL KOMBAT LEGENDS: CAGE MATCH, it's the 1980s in Hollywood, and Johnny Cage (Joel McHale) is a C-list action movie hero trying to break into the A-list. Things take a turn when his co-star Jennifer (Jennifer Grey) goes missing while in the middle of filming. Johnny goes to Jennifer's mansion to find out what's going on only to discover two female ninjas fighting over a scroll. This leads Johnny and his faithful personal assistant Chuck down a violent rabbit hole filled with demons, ninjas, and an evil cult that is trying to unleash an evil god in Los Angeles. Johnny must find a way to stop this before the god is unleashed from the sidewalk in front of the Oriental Theatre.
Is It Any Good?
This is a violent movie that's also surprisingly funny. There's a self-aware humor that makes Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match stand out among all the more adult and older teen-appropriate animated features based on video games and/or multiverses. The soundtrack alone is hilarious, perfectly parodying the high-octane banality of ‘80s action movie soundtracks. As "hero" Johnny Cage, Joel McHale is full of quips and one-liners and these humorous moments (and note the cameo from Gilbert Gottfried, who plays Johnny's foul-mouthed agent) stand out almost as much as the obligatory violence.
The humor is dry, self-aware, and cynical, and it works. One wishes the aforementioned "multiverse" movies could have at least some humor like this instead of attempts at humor that are the textbook definition of "groan-worthy." This isn't a masterpiece of animation and story, but it's entertaining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about movies based on video games, like Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match. How is this similar to and different from other movies based on video games?
How is bullying shown in this movie? What are your thoughts on Johnny's lesson about standing up to bullies?
The movie is set in 1980s Hollywood. How does the movie try to evoke the era?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: December 4, 2023
- Cast: Joel McHale , Jennifer Grey , Grey Griffin
- Director: Ethan Spaulding
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Latino actors
- Studio: Warner Bros.
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Run time: 76 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: Bloody violence and language.
- Last updated: December 4, 2023
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