“Kung Fu Panda 3” (2016) Review

Written by Sean Wall

Starring: Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, J.K. Simmons, Angelina Jolie, James Hong, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan, David Cross, Kate Hudson, & Randall Duk Kim | Rating: PG (For Martial Arts & some mild rude humor)
Runtime: 95 minutes

Content in this article (review) may contain spoilers for ‘Kung Fu Panda 3’. Readers discretion is advised.

Given the fact that this movie is too smart for those it panders to, ‘Kung Fu Panda 3’ does have some great moments that makes it lovable and at the same time criticial.

Really wasn’t a huge fan of “Kung Fu Panda 2”. It seemed like something made just for the sake of having another story to fill it. “Panda 2” is the latter of me not really enjoying it as it became my second film to walk out on. Thankfully “Kung Fu Panda 3” definitely brings you back as a fan to the series.

The third adventure has Po face all sorts of changes and challenges. is wise, wizened teacher Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), informs Po tht he must move from student to instructor and Po’s biological father, Li (Bryan Cranston), happily turns up and wants to take Po to a secret panda village in the mountains.

Can’t forget that Po’s adoptive father, a goose named Mr. Ping (James Hong), is strung by the appearance of another father. Po has to be one confused Panda bear by now. Po, however, is thrilled to find  tribe where everyone looks like him and to learn how to be a panda. Also he holds the key to trying to defeat a supernturl villain, Kai (J.K. Simmons), a bull with glowing green eyes and stels the chi from kung-fu warriors and turns them into jade-colored zombies or jombies.

With a star-studded voice cast there’s no shortage of humor. Honestly feel Jack Black’s magic of being funny has been lost prior to this film. The animation can take contendsion as being a real standout in the film. Even with the sense of choreographed action scenes that move across the screen with dynamism and grace. The slow-motion is used to great effect, and the 3-D only helps to enhance the experience. Chinese cultures is well represented with references of traditional Chinese painting and writing, are incorporated into the animation style.

The story is actually simple enough — a bad guy they have to face, a panda haing to learn about where he comes from and embraces who he really is all in one. As simple as this is the sincere and heartfelt scenario renders with sweet emotional moments, humor, and compelling, exciting action scenes. It does leave a lot of room for a fourth installment one can only wonder.

Rating: 

“Kung Fu Panda 3” is out in theatres right now!