Wanting to be one of the guys, lonely, awkward football-team waterboy Ryan Jeffers ignores his leg brace and attempts to jump a whirlpool. He misses and ends up sucked down into the dazzling, magical world of Tao, which is ruled by a tyrant obsessed with eternal life. Ryan carries with him a book given to him by his mentor, the sagacious Chinese chef/kung fu master/philosopher Ming, who hopes the deceptively powerful tome will help the under-confident boy find his inner strength. The book also contains the secret of immortality that the wicked ruler Komodo so desperately seeks. Ryan isn't long in the new world before he encounters Komodo's evil first hand. Fortunately, he also soon meets the five Roo Warriors (kangaroo-like creatures who use their martial arts skills for the forces of good), and their wise master Chung. Each Roo fighter represents one of the five basic elements, Metal, Air, Fire, Water and Wood, each of which in turn represents a point on a moral compass; they are united in their determination to stop Komodo from living forever. As he did with his most famous film in the West (the adult-oriented fairy tale The Bride with White Hair), Hong Kong director Ronny Yu blends excellently choreographed chopsocky action with Asian philosophical ramblings in a vibrant, special effects-filled fantasy setting; however, this adventure is aimed at children.