Chang Can Dunk is an American sports-drama film, centered around an underdog coming-of-age story, involving high school basketball and the titular character's determination to overcome expectations. It was released exclusively on Disney+ on March 10, 2023.
Synopsis[]
16-year-old Asian-American, Chang, is an unpopular high schooler who loves basketball, but is always underestimated. Though his peers treat him as though he is insignificant, he becomes obsessed with learning how to slam dunk. In doing so, Chang is determined to best the high school's all-star named Matt, all while hopefully winning the adoration of his romantic interest, Kristy.
Plot[]
Xiao Ming "Bernard" Chang is a sophomore in high school who is hoping to present himself as "Chang 2.0". He hangs out with his friend Bo in band, but expresses a huge interest in basketball, with whom he shares a rivalry with star player Matt O'Neil, his former friend from elementary school. One day, he is introduced to new band mate Kristy and becomes smitten with her, only for Matt to also start hitting on her. Chang continues to feel threatened by Matt, especially when his friends lock him in the basement at a house party. He escapes and confronts Matt over a prior basketball game and claims that he can make a dunk, but Matt puts him down and he is humiliated when he falls into his swimming pool.
Chang continues his hope to reinvent himself, especially since his mother Chen continuously judges his decisions, leading to him not opening up to her. He finally confronts Matt as school and bets him that he can make a dunk by homecoming. Should Chang win, Matt must shave his head and give him his prized Kobe Bryant jersey. Should Matt win, not only must Chang shave his head, he must also give him his first edition "shadowless" Charizard Pokémon Trading Card. Kristy knows full well that the bet is really about her, but chooses to support Chang regardless. Bo helps Chang train rigorously, but after one week, feels that he has not accomplished much. He goes online and discovers Deandre Cooke, a YouTuber who films himself making dunks.
Chang meets Deandre at a Verizon store and he agrees to take him on as his protégé. Seeing as how they cannot pay him, Bo instead offers to improve his YouTube videos, calling their production terrible, and he agrees. Chang improves significantly as Deandre films and uploads his exploits online and the two form a bond. Chang asks Deandre why he never went pro and he admits that sometimes life just does not go the way you want it to. At the same time, Chang and his mother start to feel distant. With one day before the dunk, Chang feels that he still is off and he sneaks into the school late at night. In the morning, everyone gathers to see Chang make the dunk and after a large fanfare, succeeds, winning the bet and earning him school fame.
Despite his online recognition, Chen still remains in the dark on Chang's success. He is invited by ESPN to come to New York to talk about his win and brings Bo, Kristy and Deandre with him. When he is asked to make the dunk again, he misses, claiming that the wind threw him off. However, Chang is swallowed up by the fame and nearly ditches his friends. At school the next day, Matt reveals that he knew that Chang cheated by lowering the basket on the court. Chang accuses him of racism and they get into a fight, resulting in both boys getting suspended for a week. Chen finally learns what Chang has been up to and angrily tells him that he does not need to prove himself to other people, while Chang admits that he can never talk to her because she is always unhappy and makes everyone else unhappy. Chang truly realizes that he cannot make a dunk and publicly apologizes for his cheating.
Chen confronts Deandre over the time he spent with Chang, but he tells her that he was a great kid and that he truly believes in him. Realizing that her son has potential, Chen goes home and destroys her house's unfinished veranda from her separated husband. Chang helps her and their relationship is renewed. Chang makes amends with Bo and Kristy, the latter of whom he starts dating. He decides to try out for basketball and also makes up with Matt with the two of them becoming better people. Sometime later, Chang is on the basketball team and is enthusiastically called into play. While he briefly makes a mistake, he gets back into the game and attempts to make another dunk.
Cast[]
- Bloom Li as Xiao Ming "Bernard" Chang
- Dexter Darden as DeAndre Cooke
- Ben Wang as Bo
- Zoe Renee as Kristy
- Chase Liefeld as Matt O'Neil
- Mardy Ma as Chen Chang
- Jay Williams as himself
- Kimberley A. Martin as herself
- Kendrick Perkins as himself
- Andre Drummond as himself
- Richard Jefferson as himself
Production[]
Announced as in development in 2019 with a script by Jingyi Shao, the movie was ultimately placed on hold and deemed a 2020 The Black List-ed movie, which includes screenplays that would not be released in theaters during this calendar year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] By September 2021, it was announced that Shao will also serve as director on the project, while Bloom Li was cast in the titular role.
Filming began on September 23, 2021.[2]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first Disney+ original film to use the 2022 Disney logo.
- Also the first Disney live-action film to use the 2022 Disney logo.
- Pokémon is referenced frequently in the film and part of the theme song of the English dubbed first season is sung, making it the first Disney production to do so.
- Matt's younger brother, Timmy is seen playing Kingdom Hearts III in the basement.
- Chang gets the nickname "Red Panda". Throughout the film chibi red panda stickers are seen throughout, some of which are taken from the Disney/Pixar film Turning Red.
- This is the first Disney+ original film produced in the 2.00:1 aspect ratio to use the 2022 Disney logo.
- This film marks the only return of the 1967 MPAA logo in the end credits for any Disney feature film since 2020's Magic Camp.
References[]
