daniel cohen reviews the sequel to Kung Fu Panda …
Plot: Lord Shen (Gary Oldman) was the heir to Gongmen City, but when his thirst for more power overcame him, he was banished by his parents. Years later, Lord Shen has returned with a powerful new weapon that could spell the end for kung-fu. Po (Jack Black) and the Furious Five must stop him, but Po is distracted when he learns Shen has ties to his past.
Kung-Fu Panda 2 is the perfect kind of kid’s film. It’s still for children, but it’s got enough serious themes where the adults can watch their own movie. In fact, it’s probably more grown-up then the original, which I also enjoyed immensely.
At the beginning of the film, Po is pretty much the man. He’s the kick ass Dragon Warrior who can take out bandits and thieves left and right. He’s pretty much like Sidney Crosby or Kevin Durant; a huge superstar who everybody loves. I was a little worried about this, because it could have easily gotten to Neo/Matrix sequel territory where it’s like, ‘this guy can just destroy everything …booooooring.’ But they give Po daddy issues that directly connect with the antagonist as a way of bringing him back down to earth, and it works effectively. The relationship between Po and his noodle-obsessed dad is really fleshed out. And just like with the first one, I really wanted to eat noodles after watching this. Unbelievable.
I love the camaraderie with Po and the rest of the Furious Five. Along with Jack Black, we get the great voice talents of Angelina Jolie (Tigress), Jackie Chan (Monkey), Seth Rogen (Mantis), Lucy Liu (Viper), and David Cross (Crane). Crane is probably my favorite character. He’s sarcastic but doesn’t realize he’s being sarcastic. David Cross gives him a lot of personality with such little dialogue. The relationship between Tigress and Po is probably the heart of the movie. It doesn’t play a romantic angle, but their friendship drives the entire film.
Unfortunately, Dustin Hoffman’s Master Shifu takes a back seat. He’s in two key scenes, but that’s it. Master Shifu really does look like Master Splinter from Ninja Turtles, and it really bothers me. Don’t give him a red robe, come on!!
There’s a lot they improved upon from the original. The villain is outstanding. Gary Oldman voices Lord Shen, this bad ass peacock. I love the way he fights. Oldman’s voice gives the character vulnerability, leadership, comedy, and ambition all in one. He’s written very well, but Oldman really puts his mark on the character. I wish this peacock was the new symbol for NBC.
The animation is loads better. Both films mix in some 2D animation, and it’s miles ahead in this one. The animation in general is just better. Maybe it’s because they didn’t have as big a budget or something, but the animation in the original was just lacking. The action and fight sequences are awesome, most notably a really fun chase through the streets of Gongmen City.
The movie is not without its weaknesses, though. The first and last acts are fantastic, but it drags quite a bit in the middle. They pretty much go with one formula throughout the whole movie: Po fights. Po is reminded of something from his past and gets distracted. Po dwells on it before the cycle repeats itself.
There are also two new characters they introduce, Master Ox (Dennis Haysbert) and Master Croc (Jean-Claude Van Damme), who are completely useless and unnecessary. They could have easily been cut.
I really enjoyed this. It’s clever, with oodles of colorful characters, and is perfect for adults and kids alike. They don’t dumb it down. Sure, we get a few of those Po/Jack Black stumbling around moments, but they’re far and few between. It blends the seriousness and comedy so well. The end is great as this really intense moment takes place with Po, but they add just the right amount of humor. I’m sure we’ll get another sequel, and I look forward to it.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10 (Very Good)
