“Chang Can Dunk”

Movie Review

Jingyi Shao's 2023 American sports-drama film Chang Can Dunk, starring Bloom Li, Dexter Darden, Ben Wang, Zoe Renee, Chase Liefeld, and Mardy Ma, is his first feature-length work. The movie is an underdog coming-of-age tale that centers on high school basketball and the drive of the title character to defy expectations.

Ming Xiao "Bernard" Chang is a high school sophomore who is unpopular. He spends time with his bandmate Bo but also shows a strong interest in basketball, where he has a feud with standout player and former elementary school pal Matt O'Neil. He falls in love with Kristy, his new bandmate, after meeting her one day, only for Matt to start making advances toward her. Matt still makes Chang feel unsafe, especially after his pals shut him in the basement during a house party. He makes his way out, confronts Matt about a previous basketball game, and declares that he can dunk. Matt knocks him down, and when he tumbles into the pool, he is embarrassed.

Chang keeps trying to reinvent himself, especially since his mother Chen continuously criticizes his choices and prevents him from being honest with her. In school, he finally confronts Matt and challenges him to a dunk by homecoming. Matt will have to shave his head and give Chang his prized Kobe Bryant jersey if Chang wins. If Matt triumphs, Chang will have to shave his head and give him a Charizard Pokemon Trading Card from the first printing of the "shadowless" series. Although Kristy is fully aware that the wager is truly about her, she still decides to support Chang. Bo assists Chang in his intense training but feels that he hasn't made much progress after a week. He searches online and comes across YouTuber Deandre Cooke, who records himself dunks.

Deandre accepts Chang as his protege after they meet in a Verizon store. Bo offers to improve his YouTube videos instead of paying him as they can't afford it. He criticizes their production quality. He concurs. Chang greatly develops as Deandre documents and shares his escapades online and the two get closer. Deandre responds that sometimes life simply doesn't go the way you want it to when Chang wonders why he never turned pro. Chang's mother and he begin to feel distant at the same moment. Chang goes into the school late at night the day before the dunk because he thinks something is still wrong with him. Everyone gathers to watch Chang attempt a dunk in the morning, and to much hoopla, he wins the bet and becomes famous at his school.

Chen is unaware of her son's accomplishments despite his online notoriety. He takes Bo, Kristy, and Deandre with him to New York since ESPN has asked him there to discuss his victory. He fails to make the dunk when asked to do so again, blaming the wind for his error. Chang, though, almost deserts his buddies because of his popularity. The following day at school, Matt claims that he was aware that Chang had cheated by lowering the basket on the court. As a brawl started after Chang accused him of racism, both boys were punished for a week. When Chen discovers what Chang has been up to, he confronts him furiously and demands that he stop trying to impress others. Chang replies that he can never talk to Chen since she is constantly sad and causes everyone else's happiness. Chang publicly apologizes for cheating after realizing that he cannot make a dunk.

Deandre responds by saying that Chang was a lovely kid and that he sincerely believes in him when Chen confronts him about the time he spent with Chang. Chen goes home and demolishes the unfinished veranda from her split husband after realizing the potential in her son. Chang assists her and mends their bond. With Bo and Kristy, with whom he begins dating, Chang reconciles. He reconciles with Matt after trying out for the school basketball team, and both of them grow as persons as a result. Later, Chang's coach instructs him to play in a game while he is a member of the basketball team. He makes a little error before stealing the ball from an opponent, dribbling down the floor, and soaring for a slam dunk. The audience erupts in jubilation as the movie closes, implying that he finally dunks.

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