KUNG FU PANDA
Directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne; written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, based on a story by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris; music by Hans Zimmer and John Powell; visual effects supervisor, Markus Manninen
With the voices of: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Randall Duk Kim, James Hong, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Dan Fogler. Rated PG. Running time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Reviewed by Joel Johnson

This is the final piece of the Asian trio weekend. The term “Asian” is, of course, being applied rather loosely in regard to this animated feature entirely in English using mostly Caucasian voice actors. The cast includes Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, and Michael Clarke Duncan. (Gee, it’s too bad they couldn’t find any big names to be in it). It is, however, set in China and revolves around the kung fu martial art form that originates in China. The story is basically one that has been told many times, with a dreamer finding himself a fish-out-of-water as his dream becoming a reality requires that he fulfill a quest.

Po the Panda (Black) is the son of a noodle-shop owner in the Valley of Peace, but he is not terribly interested in following in the family business. He is a fan of kung fu fighters the way people the world over admire-even worship-sports heroes, be they football, baseball, basketball, soccer (football to everyone outside of the U.S.), or track stars, to name just a few of the pursuits from which these heroes emerge. Po is a big fan of the Furious Five trained by kung fu master Shifu (Hoffman).

The film opens on a big day in the Valley as Zen master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) is about to select the Valley’s ultimate fighter Dragon Warrior-presumably one of the Furious Five. Po desperately wants to take in the big event, but his father doesn’t let him go without the noodle cart to sell to the assembled throng. When he arrives late, he must figure out some way into the stadium. His efforts get him not just inside the stadium amongst the crowd of onlookers but also into the center of the arena as the fateful choice is made. In a moment, Po goes from roly-poly slacker kung fu admirer to the Dragon Warrior designate. As if it wasn’t bad enough that a total novice had been chosen as the Valley’s champion Dragon Warrior, the villainous Tai Lung (McShane), who has long coveted the title Dragon Warrior, has busted out of his special prison run by Commander Vachir (Michael Clarke Duncan) to come to assume the role.

The movie cribs heavily from the Star Wars saga, among others. Snow leopard Tai Lung was the one-time favorite of Shifu, mastering all kung fu skills and assuming it his right to be named Dragon Warrior. Yet Oogway perceived a darkness in his character and withheld this prized title. (This same motif plays out in the Star Wars saga with Anakin Skywalker turning away from his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi and becoming Darth Vader.) This, of course, sets up the film’s ultimate confrontation. Unlike the Star Wars saga, which was mostly played as straight drama, Kung Fu Panda is definitely taking aim at the audience’s funny bone. The film is briskly paced, possessing sterling animation, well-choreographed kung fu sequences, a classic quest theme, and ample comic timing. It is, in essence, a familiar time-tested story with glossy new packaging. It may not be a great film, but an entertaining ninety-five minutes await, whether this is seen in the theater or at home.