Kung Fu Panda (PG.)
Directed by Mark Osbourne, John Stevenson.
Featuring the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan. 90 mins
Sometimes a film comes along that no matter how many good things you hear about it, just can’t believe it will be any good. In theory Dreamworks new animation pictures Kung Fu Panda seemed destined to be just another spiritless purse grab, like A Shark’s Tale. In practice it’s one of the most perfectly realised pieces of commercial film making I’ve seen all year.
Set in a China populated entirely by talking animals, it tells a bog standard Martial arts tale of wise old masters and brash young apprentices who become enlightened when evil threatened their homeland. Pu (Black) is the noodle cook who has an obsession with all things Kung Fu, especially the master fighting team Furious Five. When the wise ancient turtle Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) chooses him as the next Dragon Warriors charges with defending the valley from Tai Lung he gets to hang out with his heroes. But they don’t take to this overweight Panda and with his total lack of ability even his teacher Shifu (Hoffman) can’t believe he can become the Dragon warrior.
Prior to this the only Jack Black film I was interested in seeing was a feature length apology for his performance in King Kong. On reflection I’ll take this. If only he could be animated in every film – it blocks out the neediness and just leaves you with the talent. It’s not just a famous voices coming out of an animated mouth, this is as much a Jack Black performance as School of Rock or Shallow Hal.
The animation and settings are routinely stunning and both the comedy and the action are done with expert timing. There’s not a wasted frame in the film and nothing that feels contrived or motivated by Burger King tie-in possibilities. An animated tale of good and evil and an ancient skill being passed down through the generations that’s great fun but done with enough sincerity that you care about the outcome – this is what the Star Wars Prequels should’ve been like.
Jack Black Reviews:
Be Kind Rewind
Bernie
Kung Fu Panda
Directed by Mark Osbourne, John Stevenson.
Featuring the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan. 90 mins
Sometimes a film comes along that no matter how many good things you hear about it, just can’t believe it will be any good. In theory Dreamworks new animation pictures Kung Fu Panda seemed destined to be just another spiritless purse grab, like A Shark’s Tale. In practice it’s one of the most perfectly realised pieces of commercial film making I’ve seen all year.
Set in a China populated entirely by talking animals, it tells a bog standard Martial arts tale of wise old masters and brash young apprentices who become enlightened when evil threatened their homeland. Pu (Black) is the noodle cook who has an obsession with all things Kung Fu, especially the master fighting team Furious Five. When the wise ancient turtle Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) chooses him as the next Dragon Warriors charges with defending the valley from Tai Lung he gets to hang out with his heroes. But they don’t take to this overweight Panda and with his total lack of ability even his teacher Shifu (Hoffman) can’t believe he can become the Dragon warrior.
Prior to this the only Jack Black film I was interested in seeing was a feature length apology for his performance in King Kong. On reflection I’ll take this. If only he could be animated in every film – it blocks out the neediness and just leaves you with the talent. It’s not just a famous voices coming out of an animated mouth, this is as much a Jack Black performance as School of Rock or Shallow Hal.
The animation and settings are routinely stunning and both the comedy and the action are done with expert timing. There’s not a wasted frame in the film and nothing that feels contrived or motivated by Burger King tie-in possibilities. An animated tale of good and evil and an ancient skill being passed down through the generations that’s great fun but done with enough sincerity that you care about the outcome – this is what the Star Wars Prequels should’ve been like.
Jack Black Reviews:
Be Kind Rewind
Bernie
Kung Fu Panda
