Kung Fu Panda

It seemed like animated films were mostly being relegated to one-joke exercises in banality based entirely off of cute animals doing unusual things. Dancing penguins, neurotic zoo animals, etc. The list seemingly goes on and on. For a while, it seemed like any animated film without the Pixar stamp were being churned out solely for the purpose of making money. But with KUNG FU PANDA, DreamWorks has found a perfect balance of cutesiness and genuine artistry. Developing a sharp and funny script alongside an extensive and detailed style, it is set apart from the lame one-joke nature that so many films have become victims of.

Portly panda Po (voiced by Jack Black) is a lowly assistant in his father’s noodle restaurant in a small Chinese village, dreaming of something more. Specifically, to be a kung fu master and be counted among the Furious Five – the masters and defenders of their world. When the ancient turtle Oogway declares that the Dragon Master (the one who will have limitless power and be able to restore peace to the land) will be unveiled soon, the entire village gathers for a demonstration of the Furious Five’s powers. But much to their surprise Oogway declares that Po is the destined warrior, and it is now up to Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) to train him. Meanwhile, crazed warrior Tai Lung (Ian McShane) learns of the events and breaks free to track down Po and claim the title that was denied him many years ago.

If the plot is just a slight variation on the hero’s journey, it more than makes up for it with its inventive and fresh humor. Lovingly paying tribute to countless martial arts films while remaining broad enough to attract a wide audience, KUNG FU PANDA is one of those films that have something to offer everyone. There are surprisingly little of the typical martial arts jokes; the quick camera zooms are few and far between and there isn’t any mismatched dialogue in sight. Instead, the most successful gags in the film come from Po’s exaggerated physical comedic style and lovably geeky personality. Po is perfectly brought to life by Black, who proves once again that he deserves to be at the front of the comedy film world, going the lengths and stretching himself in ways that most other comedy actors avoid.

If KUNG FU PANDA were to be seriously faulted, it would be the filmmaker’s reliance on Black to deliver all of the jokes. Every member of the Furious Five – which includes the voices of Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu and David Cross – are tragically wasted. Chan in particular is left with only a few lines of throwaway dialogue. Hoffman and McShane make an impression, but mostly to provide a skeptical foil to Black’s excited enthusiasm. With the kind of voice cast that was assembled for the film (one that had the potential to be very funny), it’s a bit of a disappointment to see that it’s such a one-man show, no matter how hilarious that one man is.

But the film’s most important achievement is its impeccable design. Detailed to a point that put most other animated films to shame, KUNG FU PANDA is a pure joy to watch. Every image is beautifully rendered with a clear sense of style in mind. It’s been quite a while since the word “art” could be thrown at a non-Pixar, non-Ghibli film, but KUNG FU PANDA’s art is undeniable.

KUNG FU PANDA is a pure joy to watch for nearly every kind of viewer, children and adults alike. It accomplishes a rare feat in actually delivering on its amusing, if gimmicky premise. In a summer that’s relying on darker action epics, parents will be grateful for KUNG FU PANDA – something that will not only enthrall their children, but entertain themselves as well.

***/****