Animated film franchises can make
you feel old. In live-action movie series, actors age along with their
audiences, but in animated movies, characters like Po from Kung Fu Panda 4
always look the same. Voiced by Jack Black, Po is the same big, furry hero as
in the original film from 2008.
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| 'Kung Fu Panda 4' DREAMWORKS ANIMATION |
However, Po has changed a bit. After being the Dragon Warrior for a long time, his mentor Shifu (voiced by Dustin Hoffman) tells him to give up his title and become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. Po, who is busy starting his noodle restaurant, initially resists but eventually agrees, needing to find and train his successor.
Before dealing with The Chameleon,
a new villain who can transform herself into any creature, including an elephant,
Po must team up with Zhen, a crafty fox. Zhen promises to lead Po to The
Chameleon, who wants to acquire Po’s Staff of Wisdom to bring back evildoers
from the previous films.
Together, Po and Zhen leave the
Valley of Peace for Juniper City, where they get into various troubles,
including a barroom brawl. This brawl showcases the series' trademark kinetic
animated fight sequences, reaching dazzling new visual heights.
Po's adoptive father, Mr. Ping, and his real father, Li, are featured prominently in this installment, providing many laughs with their bumbling interactions resembling seasoned vaudevillian team antics. For example, Li tries to intimidate a group by announcing, “I eat mahjong tiles for breakfast!”
While some fans might miss the
Furious Five, The Chameleon makes a strong villain, offering a variety of
creatures for the animators to showcase. Additionally, nostalgia fans will
cheer Tai Lung's return, voiced again by Ian McShane.
Kung Fu Panda 4 introduces new
settings and characters, like Ke Huy Quan as a pangolin leader and Ronnie
Chieng as a fish in a pelican’s mouth, aiming to refresh the franchise.
However, it maintains its signature charm, with Jack Black's hilarious vocal performance
and Awkwafina's energetic delivery.
While the humor may not be as broad, with most laughs from visual gags and clever lines, the film still entertains. Some gags pay homage to or are reminiscent of other works, like the killer bunnies reminiscent of Monty Python. The end credits feature a great cover of Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time” by Tenacious D.
Full credits
Production: DreamWorks Animation, Dreamworks, Universal Pictures
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Cast: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Bryan Cranston, James Hong, Ian
McShane, Ke Huy Quan, Ronny Chieng, Lori Tan Chinn, Dustin Hoffman, Viola Davis
Director: Mike Mitchell
Co-director: Stephanie Ma Stine
Screenwriters: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Darren Lemke
Producer: Rebecca Huntley
Editor: Christopher Knights Production
Designer: Paul Duncan
Composers: Steve Mazzaro, Hans Zimmer
Casting: Leslee Feldman, Natalie Lyon, Kevin Reher, Christi Soper
Rated PG, 1 hour 34 minutes
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