GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★1/2
Rated: PG
Directed by: Mike Mitchell
Co-Directed by: Stephanie Ma Stine
Written by: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Darren Lemke
Produced by: Rebecca Huntley
Starring: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, Ian McShane and Ke Huy Quan.
‘There are more ways of helping people than kicking butt.’
The Dragon Warrior, AKA Po (Jack Black) returns, living the good life in the Valley of Peace.
He’s kicking back, catching rays… Literally, chasing down sting rays attempting to eat piglets.
Until rams come running telling tales (ha, ha) of the return of defeated nemesis, Tai Lung (Ian McShane) – somehow returned from the Spirit Realm. But how?
Enter new enemy, The Chameleon (Viola Davis) – a sorcerer able to change into anything.
How do you defeat an enemy when they can be anyone?
Po, spends time with his dads: adoptive father Mr. Ping (James Hong) and biological father, Li Shan (Bryan Cranston), opening a new restaurant, using his fame to bring in customers -Po’s still ready for anything. Except the idea of choosing his successor.
And to prove he’s still the Dragon Warrior, Po fights Zhen (Awkwafina), a pesky corsac fox attempting to steal his Staff of Wisdom.
A pesky fox, but not without talents.
Zhen’s in the know, and if freed, will help track down the formidable sorcerer, The Chamilion.
This latest instalment of Kung Fu Panda is full of wry humour. A classic moment Po meditating to find his, ‘inner peace, inner peace… dinner please… with a side of peas…’
And there’s an underlying theme of dealing with change and growing from a seed pit into a strong tree.
This is a sweet movie that had me smiling all the way through. Not hilarious, but kid friendly and filled with moments like a paint brush of colour across the screen to emphasize the Kung Fu action.
It’s a little sad seeing Po moving into his next stage of life, but that’s the whole point of the film, change.
Good fun for the whole family – skadoosh!