“The Tiger’s Apprentice” is an action adventure fantasy for the elementary school-age movie audience, a two-fisted martial arts fighting film taking place in the real world of modern San Francisco, and not the mythical China of “Kung Fu Panda” or “Mulan.”

It’s not on a par with either of those in entertainment value, fun or animation (Think “Pixar 1.5”). But there are lessons about having the courage to stand up to bullies and the discipline to be above seeking revenge on bullies-who-have-been-bullied, and compassion.

The Laurence Yep novel the film is based on is listed as being for “ages eight to 12.” So it’s not “Young Adult” fiction, despite having teen heroes.

At least it’ll save parents the trouble of trying to explain the Chinese zodiac, which the film amusingly notes is emblazoned on every placemat in almost every Chinese restaurant in North America.

Tom (Brandon Soo Ho) has been raised by his grandma (voiced by Kheng Hua Tan) from Hong Kong. They weren’t fleeing totalitarianism. Granny was trying to protect her late daughter’s baby from the threats posed by dragon demons and a witchy villain, Loo (Michelle Yeoh).

So he’s grown up in San Francisco, in a colorfully-decorated Painted Lady house covered in the Chinese charms Grandma makes and sells. That’s “weird” enough to get him bullied at school.

As you might guess, fighting back against a bully is how Tom discovers he’s “not normal.” The whole school discovers it. And his cracks about “Must have been that protein bar I had” don’t fool anybody, even the cute new foster child classmate Ra (Leah Lewis). They’ve already cell-phone-broadcast his “special powers.”

Grandma barely has time to explain “Our entire FAMILY is not normal” when A), her “old friend, Hu (Henry Golding) drops by to see that they’re OK and B) demonic dragons — whom we’ve seen attacking them when Tom was but a baby back in Hong Kong — show up, and because evil Loo has come for the Phoenix amulet for which Granny is “guardian.”

One Obi Wan Kenobi sacrifice later and Tom is wearing the necklace, and Hu — who turns out to be one of the “zodiacs” sworn to protect The Guardian, shape shifts into his Tiger avatar and spirits the kid to safety.

Tom discovers the “team” of protectors he must train with and depend on — Year of the “Rabbit,” “Pig,” “Dog,” Dragon,” “Rooster,” “Ox,” “Goat,” “Monkey,” “Snake,” “Horse,” Tiger and “Rat.”

Protectors? Those are “barely a petting zoo!”

But transforming into their animal form, each has powers that come in handy in a fracas.

“SNL’s” Bowen Yang, as a pizza-toting (New York subway joke) rat, stands out in the voice cast, as he must. Sherry Cola (“Joy Ride”) has fun voicing a short-tempered Chinese granny/dim sum cook. Yeoh is properly menacing as the villain, Golding properly no-nonsense — save when he’s caught in a debate with the rowdy rooster (Jo Koy).

Whatever, “Whiskers.” Back atcha “Drumstick!”

Tom must learn to “feel the Qi inside you” to be an effective guardian of the all-powerful Phoenix, use the dreams he has of his family and figures of myth, and come up with proper expletives for a family-friendly film.

“Holy shrimp-friend rice!”

There isn’t much to “The Tiger’s Apprentice,” but the fight sequences have a little pop, and I was struck by one lovely image — the fog-shrouded Golden Gate bridge at night, parked far in the background. The rest is a tad on the bland side in terms of visuals and content.

It’s not goofy, original or clever enough to dazzle and hold the attention of anyone over 12. But then, it’s not designed to.

Rating: PG

Cast: The voices of Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding, Brandon Soo Ho, Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh, Jo Koy, Sherry Cola and Bowen Yang

Credits: Directed by Raman Hui, Yong Duk Jhun and Paul Watling, scripted by David Magee and Christopher L. Yost, based on the novel by Laurence Yep. A Paramount Animation/Paramount+ release.

Running time: 1:24