Cook review: ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ continues franchise fun
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It’s cuddly, comical and cute enough to be worth your time.
Hey, it’s a popular franchise. “Kung Fu Panda 4” gives viewers a central character they already love: Jack Black is back as Po, the Giant Panda.
‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ (IMDb)
He’s full of himself, loving the attention he gets from being the Dragon Master. The movie opens with a lot of action and a funny scene at a noodle shop, where Po is soaking up the love from his many fans.
But gruff Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) tells Po it’s time that he settles down so that he can become more of a spiritual leader and choose his successor.
Po doesn’t want things to change – he loves the adoration from his fans and the action that goes with being a warrior.
Meanwhile, he makes the acquaintance of a fox named Zhen (Awkwafina,) who turns out to have a sketchy past, and team up with her to get the best of The Chameleon (Viola Davis,) a shape-shifting sorceress who calmly plans to dominate the world with her powers that allow her to fetch criminals from the spirit realm (yes, Ian McShane is back as the snow leopard Tai Lung) and steal their powers with the Staff of Wisdom.
Black, as always, is an effervescent hoot as Po. (We also hear him in his band Tenacious D, which delivers a fun version of the Britney Spears hit “Baby One More Time.”) And both of Po’s dads (James Hong and Bryan Cranston) are on hand to lend support to their son. They have a funny encounter in a rough bar full of tough bunny customers.
The Furious Five, who aren’t part of the main film, do make a welcome return at the very end.
The themes of confidence, of accepting change, and of planning ahead will be welcome for adults and children alike. Because it’s currently kicking bucks at the box office, I’m sure there will be a “Kung Fu Panda 5.”
3 stars
Rated; PG for cartoon violence and coarse humor.
Running time: One hour and 34 minutes.
In theaters.
Watch the trailer here.
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