Wish Dragon 2021

The cinematic journey commences in a mystical realm shrouded in an ethereal veil. A lone individual approaches the gates of the afterlife, only to be thwarted by their sudden closure. Before him stands a colossal deity, its pipa melodies weaving a spell of enchantment. The man’s entreaties for entry fall on deaf ears as the god’s music wields a mesmerizing power over him.

Meanwhile, in the mortal realm, we are introduced to Din Song (Ian Chen), a young boy growing up with his mother (Constance Wu) in a world filled with wonder and curiosity. His life is forever changed when he befriends Li Na Wang (Alyssa Abiera), a free-spirited girl whose father’s wealth and busyness leave her feeling neglected. As the years pass, the two form an unbreakable bond, sharing countless adventures until the fateful day that Li Na’s father relocates them, forcing her to bid farewell to Din. Though they vow to maintain their friendship, Din is left to confront the pangs of loneliness.

A decade later, Din (now portrayed by Jimmy Wong) has grown into a young adult, prioritizing his food delivery work over academic pursuits. His friend Wei becomes the unwitting bearer of a crucial assignment, which Din retrieves from the ruins of a demolished building. There, he encounters a homeless man (Ronny Chieng) who possesses an enigmatic teapot, imbuing Din with an otherworldly energy before vanishing into thin air.

As Din returns home to his mother and neighbors, a façade of success and genius is shattered when Wei reveals the truth about his neglected studies. The evening’s dinner conversation becomes strained as Mrs. Song’s disappointment simmers beneath the surface.

That night, Din ventures out to procure a humble suit, only to be struck by the nostalgia-inducing billboard featuring Li Na (now played by Natasha Liu Bordizzo), who has blossomed into a stunning model. His longing for reconnection is tempered by the tears in his suit, a poignant reminder that time and distance have likely altered their friendship. As he laments the passing of their shared promise, the teapot begins to tremble, releasing LongZhu (John Cho), the Wish Dragon, who declares Din as his new master – an unexpected twist that leaves both parties underwhelmed by the revelation.

As the trio of nefarious characters - Pockets, a bald and agile operative (Aaron Yoo), accompanied by his diminutive and deadly sidekick (Jimmy O. Yang) and towering companion (Bobby Lee) - emerges from the alleyway, their mission becomes clear: to retrieve the coveted teapot and report back to their enigmatic employer, Mr. Wang. With Pockets’ impressive kung fu skills allowing him to bypass local guards with ease, the group sets their sights on Din, who is unwittingly holding the prized possession. As they close in, Din finds himself wishing he possessed the martial prowess to fend off his attackers and make a timely escape. Long, sensing his protégé’s distress, imparts upon Din the ability to tap into his own latent kung fu abilities, allowing him to confront the villains and ultimately evade capture.

The following day, Long shadowed Din as he attempted to persuade the young boy to utilize his remaining two wishes. With a wealth of ancient wisdom at his disposal, Long revealed that he had been imprisoned within the teapot for the past millennium, serving no fewer than ten masters before being freed by Din’s initial wish. As they navigated the bustling cityscape, Long found himself enthralled by the modern world’s innovations and culinary delights - particularly shrimp chips, which quickly became an addiction.

As their journey continued, the unlikely duo became stuck in a taxi cab mired in traffic chaos. Long’s patience wore thin as the gridlock showed no signs of abating, prompting him to employ his magical abilities to levitate themselves above the congestion, much to Din’s dismay. The latter had wished for a more conventional exit, but Long remained resolute in his own approach.

Their odyssey eventually led them to the doorstep of Li Na on her birthday, where Din found himself torn between reconnecting with his childhood friend and the allure of wealth and prestige. With a deep longing to recapture Li Na’s attention, Din decided to utilize his second wish to transform into a wealthy princeling, hoping that this new persona would secure him a place at her side.

As Din accompanies Long to the party, he assumes the role of servant to gain proximity to the elusive Li Na. Unbeknownst to Li Na, Din’s presence is merely a ruse to get closer to her. The evening unfolds with Li Na and her father, Mr. Wang, preparing for a dance, but his absence leaves Li Na feeling embarrassed. Din seizes the opportunity to salvage the situation by conjuring an impromptu magic show with Long’s assistance. However, instead of being impressed, Li Na retreats to her room in tears.

Din decides to reappear and attempt to rekindle their connection, but just as he’s making his move, Mr. Wang’s assistant, Buckley (Nico Santos), bursts onto the scene via video call. As they discuss their plans for lunch, Buckley feigns nonchalance, concealing his true intentions from Din. Unaware of the deception, Din is left feeling bewildered.

Meanwhile, Long continues to nudge Din towards fulfilling his last wish, revealing that he’s seeking a one-way ticket to Heaven. Long claims to have once been a human emperor, beloved by his subjects, which only serves to further mystify Din. Upon returning home, Din appears disheveled in front of his mother due to Long’s mischievous antics.

The following morning, Pockets and his goons are spotted lurking outside Din’s apartment, oblivious to the fact that he’s been accompanied by Long. As they follow him to his lunch meeting with Li Na, Long advises Din to adopt a more refined demeanor, but this only results in Li Na being put off by his pretentiousness. Just as things seem to be going awry, Pockets and his goons crash the restaurant, prompting Din to unleash his kung fu skills to protect Li Na.

As they make their escape, they find themselves at the festival outside, where Long disguises himself as a paper dragon to conceal Din and Li Na from the villains. The ensuing battle features rival dragons, but Din’s prowess allows him to safeguard Li Na. Once they’re alone, he reveals his true identity to Li Na, confessing that he’d been hiding his commoner status beneath a veneer of sophistication.

As they stroll through the familiar streets, Li Na (character name) is struck by the nostalgic aura of her childhood neighborhood. Her footsteps lead her to Din’s apartment, where Mrs. Song warmly greets her with a home-cooked meal, accompanied by the inquisitive gazes of their nosy neighbors. The afternoon sun shines bright as they engage in lively dumpling-making and revelry. As night falls, Li Na reveals her reluctance to maintain ties with Din, citing her father’s expectations and standards she feels compelled to uphold.

Meanwhile, Din implores Long to abandon his third wish and instead bask in the riches he has amassed. Long responds with a poignant, dreamlike narrative, recounting his own tale of unrelenting ambition as an emperor. His insatiable desire for wealth and respect led him down a path of isolation, as those around him suffered in silence. His daughters were married off to other royal families, only to live unhappy lives, while his son perished on the battlefield. Long’s demise was met with indifference, and when he approached the gates of Heaven, he was denied entry by the god at the gate – a familiar figure who had previously gifted Din with the enigmatic teapot. This punishment transformed him into a Wish Dragon, a reminder that his pursuit of wealth had failed to bring him fulfillment until his encounter with Din.

Just as Long’s story concludes, Mr. Wang and Pockets arrive on the scene, accompanied by their goons. Mr. Wang is desperate to reclaim the teapot, hoping its mystical properties will save his struggling company from financial ruin. However, Pockets betrays his employer, targeting the teapot for himself. In a shocking turn of events, he overpowers Din and sends Mr. Wang plummeting to his death before proclaiming Long as his new master. With his first wish, Pockets transforms everything he touches into gold, leaving Li Na to find her dying father amidst the chaos.

As the dust settles from the chaos, Din seizes the opportunity to take down the nefarious villains by descending upon them via a wrecking ball. In the ensuing struggle for control over the prized teapot, one of the henchmen - a lanky giant - makes an audacious wish to be inundated with puppies to open up his very own pet store, while his diminutive accomplice longs for the power to sprout longer legs. Meanwhile, Pockets’ hapless fumbling inadvertently transforms their van into a glittering goldmine, prompting him and Din to engage in a fierce battle for possession of the teapot as Long soars above them on his aerial acrobatics. The situation quickly spirals out of control when Pockets overpowers Din and threatens to transmute him into solid gold, but Long selflessly intervenes, absorbing the brunt of the blow and slowly transforming into a golden statue. As everyone crashes to the ground, Pockets - in a moment of careless abandon - inadvertently turns himself into gold, only to shatter upon hitting the bridge, while Din plummets into the waters below, too late to save his friend.

In a stunning turn of events, Long finds himself returned to the mortal realm as a human. The enigmatic pipa god from earlier greets him, prepared to grant Long passage into the afterlife - but only if he first returns to Din to utilize his third and final wish. After some deliberation, Long agrees to the condition, and upon reuniting with Din, he wishes for Mr. Wang’s full recovery. As the sun rises on a new day, Li Na expresses her gratitude, and the two goons - their individual wishes now fulfilled - part ways.

Back in the mortal realm, Din returns home alongside Li Na and her father, where Mrs. Song warmly invites them to share a meal together. Mr. Wang, now fully recovered, takes a moment to lavish praise upon Mrs. Song’s delectable soup, sparking an idea that will soon lead him to open his very own soup and dumpling restaurant - with Din and Li Na serving as invaluable members of the team, their friendship flourishing amidst the hustle and bustle.

As time passes, Din once again stumbles upon the magical teapot, only this time he engages in a poignant farewell with Long, now bound by the duty to serve yet another ten masters. With a heavy heart, Din bids his friend adieu, placing the teapot upon the back of a cart being ridden by the now-human pipa god as it disappears into the distance.