Parents Television Council Reviews

PTC reviews aim to provide you with advance information about an entertainment offering so that you can be the final arbiter of what you and your family see.

Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior

Disney Channel

By Christopher Gildemeister

Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior is the latest example of family-friendly programming from Disney. That audiences are starved for such wholesome fare is attested to by the fact that, in its initial on airing June 16^th the movie attracted 5.7 million viewers, and actually beat all other networks, including those on broadcast television, in its timeslot, becoming the fourth most watched program on all of cable that week. Even a rerun of the movie scored in the top fifteen top-rated shows.

The movie tells the story of Wendy Wu, a typical teen of Chinese-American heritage. Some things are going well in Wendy's life; she has several close friends, is popular in school, and is dating handsome hunk Austin. But Wendy has problems too, chief among them her failing scores in history class and a rivalry with the beautiful Jessica Dawson, who is competing with Wendy for the prize of being named Homecoming Queen.

Wendy's life takes an unexpected turn when a robed teenage monk named Shen appears at her door and follows her about, claiming to be her protector and telling Wendy that he must train her. But Wendy's Grandmother recognizes the monk and guesses the truth: Wendy, like many of her maternal ancestors, is a reincarnation of an ancient Chinese warrior queen, and is destined to once again battle an evil sorcerer's ghost and save the world from destruction. Wendy is at first reluctant to listen to or even be seen with Shen, but gradually comes to accept her role, her acceptance transforming herself and her family's life in the process. The evil ghost possesses various people in an attempt to menace Wendy, but the loyal Shen protects her and teaches Wendy the martial arts so that she can defend herself. Eventually Wendy's teachers, now possessed by the spirits of master monks, aid her in defeating the ghost and its army of animated statues. In the process, Wendy learns what is truly important in life.  

Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior is a delightful movie enjoyable by the whole family. It is dramatic and action-packed, but never gratuitously brutal. The movie also teaches good lessons through its characters:  because of Shen's visit, Wendy's parents – who spent much of their lives assimilating to America – come to appreciate their Chinese heritage and listen with pleasure to Grandmother's stories. Wendy, though initially concerned about what her fellow students will think of Shen's strange manners and dress, learns that appearances are not as important as who someone is inside, and rejects the vain Austin who cares only about looks. Most importantly, Wendy deliberately chooses to put aside her fondest dream – beating Jessica and becoming homecoming queen – in order to accept her destiny and defeat the evil ghost from the past.

Contradicting the stereotypes usually present in movies aimed at teens and children, each character is portrayed respectfully and in a positive fashion. Wendy's parents are not stupid or harsh, but are effective and loving. Wendy's father has a sensitive moment when he recalls the reasons he rejected his Chinese origins as a boy, and Wendy's mother also regrets her ignorance of her heritage and mends fences with her own mother. Wendy's grandmother is treated with respect by the entire family. Wendy's kid brother Peter is not annoying or rude, and in fact sticks up for Wendy at a key moment. The teachers are not bumbling fools, but actually end up serving as Wendy's martial arts instructors. Wendy teaches the serious Shen, who has spent his life in a monastery, to enjoy life as a typical teen, teaching him to dance and to appreciate such American delicacies as chocolate and Doritos. Even Wendy's rival Jessica Dawson is not reduced to a mean-spirited caricature; Jessica is a decent girl who merely happens to be another contender for the school crown. Wendy's newfound maturity is demonstrated when she selflessly tells Jessica that she should be Homecoming Queen; Wendy has learned that family and friends are more important than titles and popularity.

Most surprising – and pleasant – of all, there is no bad language in the entire movie. In an era when filmmakers feel compelled to slip a "damn" or "hell" even into movies aimed at children, this is nothing short of remarkable. Similarly, there is no scatological or anatomical humor shown or implied -- no one is hit in the crotch, for example. References to sex are also completely absent.

The film does contain a large number of highly stylized kung fu battles featuring flips, kicks and acrobatics, with a few punches; and in the final battle, spears and staves are used by both Wendy's group and the evil army of statues she faces, her opponents exploding into shards when defeated. No blood is seen. The evil ghost's possession of other people's bodies is manifested as a glow in their eyes, and occasionally some smoky energy bolts zap people. Such violence may be too intense for the very youngest viewers, and the program is rated TV-PG.

Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior is a perfect example of the kind of family-friendly programming too long absent from television. Disney is to be congratulated for making such clean and entertaining fare part of its lineup. 

Family Movie Reviews

The Parents Television Council - www.parentstv.org

Have you seen this movie? Comment on this review, Click here!