Kung Fu Panda 4 review

KUNG FU PANDA 4: 

PO RETURNS IN SOLID FOURTH ENTRY! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** out of 4

UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND DREAMWORKS ANIMATION

Zhen, Master Shifu, Po, The Chameleon, and Tai Lung in Kung Fu Panda 4

 

            Jack Black (School of Rock, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Tropic Thunder) returns as the voice of pudgy, lovable doofus panda turned Dragon Warrior Po in Kung Fu Panda 4, the fourth installment of the Kung Fu Panda film series and the latest animated feature from DreamWorks Animation. The Kung Fu Panda movies are a prime example of films that are far better than they had any right to be with the first film released in 2008 not only being a hilarious animated comedy with Jack Black as a cartoon panda but also a movie that explored bold ideas and thought-provoking themes, taught important lessons for both kids and adults, and had surprisingly brilliant storytelling. 

            The 2011 sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2 I’ll go on record and say is one of the best animated sequels ever made and among the likes of Toy Story 2, Shrek 2, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. It expands upon the story set up by the first film even further, introduces an extremely imposing and threatening antagonist in the form of Lord Shen voiced brilliantly by Gary Oldman, and goes into Po’s backstory with some of the most heartbreaking drama you’ll ever see in an animated feature. 

            While the third film from 2016, Kung Fu Panda 3 doesn’t quite have the same rewatch value as its predecessors, it’s still an amazing movie with Po finding his real dad and going back to his panda roots while also learning how to become something even greater than the Dragon Warrior. It’s one of the best animated trilogies of the 2000s-2010s…but then they made a fourth one. 

            I constantly had to remind myself this was even coming out because I wasn’t really clamoring for a continuation after Kung Fu Panda 3 ended, not to mention I only saw the trailer for this once in theaters and it was before Migration. Aside from seeing some posters and standees in movie theater lobbies as well as a few social media posts about it, I almost forgot we were getting Kung Fu Panda 4 nor was I really thinking about it much. 

            Well, after much cautious optimism and as someone who absolutely adores the Kung Fu Panda movies, I can gladly say that Kung Fu Panda 4 is…a good movie! Yeah, just a good movie no more, no less. 

            The film follows Po being called by destiny to seek out a successor to take on the role as the Dragon Warrior and he in turn can become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. However, a new threat comes in the form of a shape-shifting, sorceress Chameleon (voiced by Viola Davis-The Help, DC Extended Universe, The Woman King) who sets her eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom which could give her the power to re-summon all of Po’s previous foes from the spirit realm. 

            With the help of Master Shifu (voiced once again by Dustin Hoffman-Kramer VS Kramer, Rain Man, Meet the Fockers/Little Fockers), Po’s adoptive and biological dads Mr. Ping (voiced again by James Hong-Blade Runner, Mulan, Everything Everywhere All at Once) and Li Shan (voiced again by Bryan Cranston-Breaking Bad, Argo, Godzilla (2014)), and a crafty, quick-witted street thief fox named Zhen (voiced by Awkwafina-Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell, Jumanji: The Next Level), Po will make a stand to protect the Valley of Peace from the Chameleon’s wrath and learn that some heroes are found in the most unexpected places. 

            The film also features the voices of Ian McShane (Coraline, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, John Wick franchise) reprising his role as Tai Lung, Ke Huy Quan (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Goonies, Everything Everywhere All at Once) as Han, Lori Tan Chinn (South Pacific (2001), Turning Red, Joy Ride) as Granny Boar, Ronny Chieng (Godzilla VS Kong, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, M3GAN) as Captain Fish, and YouTuber MrBeast (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Under the Boardwalk, Migration) as Panda Pig. 

            Overall, Kung Fu Panda 4 may be the weakest entry of the series and lack the emotional weight and many of the key characters from earlier installments, but it’s still a well-made movie with dazzling animation, inventive and quick action, and it makes up for much of its flaws with plenty of heart. It doesn’t aim to teach new lessons or take the series in new directions and instead just gives a 90-minute comfort viewing that goes everywhere you’d expect a movie like this would go and I should stress that’s not exactly a bad thing. 

            It’s sort of like the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie where the storyline is very predictable but the charm of the characters is what keeps it together. I would have preferred a fourth Kung Fu Panda movie that took the series to new places but a simply entertaining one with lovable characters is good enough for me. 

            This one does still expand on Po’s character arc with him coming to terms with finding a new Dragon Warrior and transcending to a higher position. There is no replacement for Po’s interactions with the Furious Five, but the dynamic between him and Zhen is very entertaining from their comedic banter to the slower, more heartfelt moments, both Black and Awkwafina do admirable jobs selling both aspects of their characters. 

            Viola Davis is also having a ball as the evil Chameleon and while she may not be one of the most complex villains in the Kung Fu Panda series, she is one of the funniest with her going over-the-top and Davis being able to unleash her crazy side. Plus, her character leads to some inventive action scenes involving her shapeshifting into other characters during fights. 

            Like its predecessors, the martial-arts action is a lot of fun and very stylized with an animated Jackie Chan or even comic book feel to them in terms of lighting, shadows, and visual effects. Probably the best action scene in the movie is this chase in a city that eventually leads into a China shop with all the characters moving as slowly as possible to prevent breaking anything. 

            While I didn’t find it quite as funny as the earlier films, I laughed a fair amount of times in the movie. Some of my favorites being these visual gags involving characters’ inner-thoughts throughout the film, seemingly adorable rabbits turned bloodthirsty monsters obsessed with violence, and a teetering tough guy pub on the sea. 

            Kung Fu Panda 4 is a slight letdown but I say it’s still a decent entry in the series with just enough visual dazzle, creative action, and heart to keep it afloat. It’s sure to entertain kids and longtime fans of the franchise, like me. Not quite Skadoosh, but Ska…Good…Enough…sh…yeah, that’s what I’m going with. Shut up!