Karate Animals Bring Endless Smiles

Final Thoughts: One of my best friends is a film-nerd. You know, Cinema-Kid, Has-his-movie-in-production-soon kind of guy. Very smart, very talented. Being friends with a cinema kid is hard because, after a while, you never enjoy movies quite the way you used to. The Cinema Kid may have made you smarter, yes, but they have also made you more critical, more.... thoughtful. And now, when you watch a piece of mindless entertainment, all you can hear is the Cinema Kid's voice in your ear, telling you all the things wrong with it. No longer can you be stupid and ignorantly enjoy bad movies. Now you start throwing around phrases like, "denouement", "first/second/third act", and "narrative through-line".

So when I heard NPR's review of the film , I thought I'd hate it. I thought the CK voice would just pound in my ear. But I have to say, if you don't love this movie, you may be lacking a heart-piece somewhere (no offense to NPR, who didn't hate the film). The animals are just so damn cute, and the story is just so damn fun well... how can you not enjoy?

Kung Fu Panda , which tells the story of Po (Jack Black), a kung-fu loving Panda, opens with beautiful Samurai-Jack-esque animation, which caused one of my friends to say that he wouldn't have minded "the whole film to be done that way". The animation is beautifully angled, with an obvious Eastern influences--and then you're dropped into the CGI world. Dreamworks, always seemingly in the shadow of the famous Disney-Pixar, has made their own mark with the beautiful work they did on this film. The color palette for the film is beautiful, if not breathtaking at some points (the scene at the Jade Palace and Po under the Peach Tree were the stand-out stunners). And the characters are just so alive and charming, that you can't help but get involved in their story. That, and they're just so freakin' cute.

The story, which some considered "too-kiddy", was actually really fun. Yes, the message is a blase one; and yes, it's another kids film telling us that "we are special, just as we are", and that we should "always follow our dreams" but you know what? It was still told in a way that was enjoyable, engaging, and entertaining. Po's journey to battle discrimination on his race (Panda) and his weight is one that the audience can understand and connect with, making him an easy character to root for. Also, Master Shifu's (Dustin Hoffman) use of food in training was an interesting way of showing kids (and adults) that we all learn in different ways. Clocking in at a scant 95 min, the third act felt a little short (see? There's the CK voice...), but the pacing wasn't so rushed that it took me out of the film. The end was completely predictable and adorable, but it's a children's film, so I can accept that.

The voice work was well done. Jack Black proved to be a talented voice actor, using his characteristic goofiness to make the Po engaging, but adding the subtlety necessary to make the audience want the Po to win. The best part was, for most of the film, you didn't even remember it was Jack Black-- but in a good way. He was able to make Po not just "Jack Black as a Panda", but a distinct character within himself. Only for a few choice lines ("SKADOOSH!") did Black's goofy-delivery stick out (again, not in a bad way). Dustin Hoffman was also fun as the tiny Kung Fu master, and Ian McShane does a great villain. There were other big names in the film, but they're hardly noticeable-- though we'll get to that in a second.

By far, the best part of this film was the fight scenes. Beautifully animated with kung-fu-style cuts, the animators really outdid themselves in the battles, managing to make them punchy enough to feel active and interesting, but still making sure they were devoid of any real violence. Again, this is a children's film, so I fully commend the animators for finding a nice balance in their fights.

My only gripe (and where I agree most with NPR's Mondello) is that the other characters are completely devoid of growth or even real character. I didn't even realize Seth Rogen or Jackie Chan were in this film until I saw the credits-- since everyone except Hoffman, McShane (kinda) and Black had (what felt like) 5 lines each. Jolie's Tigress had the most character development of the supporting cast, but even her wrap-up felt lacking.

Overall, Kung Fu Panda is a completely enjoyable and fun Summer Movie. Even my CK friend, who saw it with me, left the theatre going "That was so much fun!" Admittedly, if you're looking for something super dark and thoughtful, or something, well, "grown-up", this may not be your thing. But if you're willing to be a kid again, even for 95 minutes, this film will be a blast. I mean, it's cute animals doing sweet Kung Fu, and it actually has a story. What's not to love?