In today's franchise-saturated movie scene, few sequels have managed to expand the world of a series while retaining the fundamental elements that made the original great. DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda 4 is one of his few works, with bright, colorful animation, expansive locations, great new characters, and a light, action-packed story.
The film depicts Poe's (Jack Black) struggle to relinquish his position as a dragon warrior and take the next step in his journey to become a spiritual leader. Things get difficult when Poe realizes he must team up with thief Jen (Awkwafina) to defeat the mysterious villain, Chameleon (Viola Davis).
With a running time of just over 90 minutes, “Kung Fu Panda 4” maintains a light pace, light on the story and heavy on the action, making it an easy watch. Although the film is aimed at young children, it has proven to be entertaining for adults as well, thanks to DreamWorks' blend of comedy and action. The characters never stop fighting, running, and colliding, and the filmmakers expertly blend the film's animation style with the slapstick of Hong Kong action-comedies.
The storytelling in this movie is a little shaky. The simple, straightforward plot leaves more room for action set-ups and jokes, and the filmmakers seem more interested in world-building. As a result, Kung Fu Panda 4 lacks the heart and complexity of its predecessor. Featuring mostly simple, rehashed themes from past films, the film's central theme, “Change is good,” sends a great message to children.
Kung Fu Panda 4 struggles with its villain problem. Despite a strong vocal performance by Viola Davis, The Chameleon is never as menacing as Tai Lung or General Kai, and fails to form a personal connection with Po like Lord Shen. Because of this, Chameleon seems more like a nuisance than a real threat, but her motives remain unclear.
The film also lacks the emotional core of its predecessor due to its strangely quiet and bland sound. Unlike Hans Zimmer's more iconic works, the musical themes are not prominent, instead simply accompanying the scenes and hiding behind sound effects. A single piece of music that plays during a chase scene reminds viewers of Zimmer's greatness in other works in the series, but it quickly fades.
But Kung Fu Panda makes up for its lack of depth with great worldbuilding, characters, and stunning animation. The narrow streets of Juniper City are the perfect location for the film's action scenes, and Poe and Jen's friendship forms the emotional core of the film. While Po's fathers, Mr. Ping (James Hong) and Li Shang (Bryan Cranston) return, and their roles as concerned parents add both humor and heart to the film, Ronnie Cheng's Captain Fish introduces an absurd but welcome new character. With so many new characters and an expanded world, viewers can expect to see more of Kung Fu: His Panda.
Clearly made for a younger audience, “Kung Fu Panda 4” will easily charm even veteran series fans with its gorgeous visuals, fast-paced action, and sense of humor. Watch with the whole family on the biggest screen possible.
4 out of 5 crazy and violent rabbits