Kung Fu Panda: No masterpiece but exceeds expectations

Kung Fu Panda
***

I expected a certain level of cuteness in Kung Fu Panda, perhaps some good voice work given the nicely eclectic cast and a few good jokes, and little more. What I saw instead was a beautifully animated, often very funny cartoon that rivals anything Pixar's done the past few years.  Sure there are cliches here and the main plot has some "don't think too hard about it" elements to it; in which Tai Lung, the evil former pupil of a Kung Fu master, escapes from prison and seeks the title of "Dragon Warrior" that he believes rightly his, a title instead, seemingly mistakenly, given to the bumbling, blubbery panda Po (voice by Jack Black). If that plot builds to a predictable face-off, the film takes off in unexpected ways and uses smart characterizations and a sly wit to gain plenty of good will. It doesn't hurt that the supporting characters -- the five pupils, Crane (comedian/actor David Cross), the confident Tigress (Angelina Jolie), the plucky Mantis (the now ubiquitous Seth Rogen), Snake (Lucy Liu), and Monkey (Jackie Chan! who has very few lines), and particularly the story's two Yoda characters, the ancient turtle Oogway (wonderfully voiced by Randall Duk Kim) and master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), as well as Po's father (who is, for reasons that are never explained but poked fun of, a goose) and the villain Tai Lung (a perfect Ian McShane) -- are so beautifully realized in design and performance - each tweaked a bit to fit the respective actor.

Kudos, too, to the filmmakers and writers (Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger wrote the script, from a story by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris) who refrained from inserting the anachronistic pop cultural references and easy modernist jokes that many of its peers (including Dreamworks' Shrek) have been unable to resist (there is some modern lingo used but even that is playfully handled).   

There is a great deal of slapstick in the film, and your tolerance for slapstick may ultimately decide whether or not you enjoy Kung Fu Panda, but much of these comic action set pieces are expertly handled, with inspired timing that Chuck Jones would be proud of.   And the animation, all CGI except for a dream sequence and the closing credits, is rich, colorful, well-detailed. If it offers up expected, even stereotypical Chinese landscapes-- mystical, misty, mountainous -- and style reminiscent of Chinese classical paintings, it's still pretty beautiful to look at, and even better the makers are smart enough to use the "sets" for many of the films visual jokes (including the running joke with the ridiculously high stairs that Panda has to climb) and for the film's fight sequences. And even if Po's training sequence is an entirely expected event, it's surprisingly amusing {TINY SPOILER} -- an inspired, food-based training that will, if nothing else, make you rather hungry for dumplings.

Again, it's no masterpiece, but Kung Fu Panda exceeds expectations in many ways, is always a treat to look at, and is likable throughout. And, much as with the classic Warner Bros. cartoons, offers plenty for both adults and children to appreciate together.

Comments

[Xeifrank]

Thanks for the write-up of this movie Underdog. I plan on taking my 3 year old to go see this sometime in the near future. You make a good film critic. Would love to hear your recommendations for good foriegn/asia movies.
vr, Xeifrank

[Craig Phillips]

Thanks, Xei! Anytime you want some recommendations let me know. I'm not hip to every great Asian film, but have seen quite a few in recent years. Let me know what kinds you're interested in, or have liked in the past.

But yes, take your kid to Panda - there will be some jokes over their head that you'll enjoy but plenty more children of all ages will appreciate.

CP

[hamano]

I gotta say my favorite voice acting in the film was by James Hong, my favorite Seinfeld guest star ever ("Cartwright?") doing Po's "father"....

The character design for the Mantis Master reminded me a LOT of the circus magician from "A Bug's Life" but I guess there aren't that many ways you can make a cartoon out of a praying mantis...

[Lauryn Purtee]

I have to admit that I was really laughing hard in some parts of the movie. But I agree that it's a good one. It was nice to see how Po developed into the Chosen One throughout the stretch of the movie.