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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready....
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Since 1996 |
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready....
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Kung Fu Panda Jack Black as a Kung Fu hero? Dustin Hoffman as a yoda-like instructor who has trained many a Kung Fu warrior? How is this possible and believable? Yes, only in the world of animation are such things possible. Plus Black has to be a Panda to make it all work out. And it does to some extent in the new DreamWorks animated comedy, Kung Fu Panda. From the writing team that brought us many episodes of King of the Hill and a director whose credit list includes 2 episodes of Sponge Bob Square Pants we get a decent story with a positive message. A message most kids will probably miss because they will be laughing at all the kung fu animals. Po the Panda (Black) wants to break away from his roots in the noodle restaurant business and follow the path of his local kung fu heroes. When he is picked as the next dragon master everyone thinks there has to be a mistake. Po is slow, out of shape and over weight. I mean, he is a panda. But the heart of a warrior is in his, well, heart. And no one has the heart more than Po. So with a little luck and the world of cartoon consequences Po takes on the challenge in order to defeat the evil Tai Lung who is threatening to attack the small village where they live. This film is classic Jack Black. His artistic delivery style of self deflating humor is the only thing this film really has going for it. The animation is ok but nothing spectacular. The other characters have very few funny lines and are there just to give Po something to play off of. So it is an understatement to say that you have to be a fan of the Black to enjoy this film. Unless of course you are under the age of 12. Then you will like it just for the funny Panda and the slapstick antics of the kung fu animals. Adults will be relieved that it is only 88 minutes in length. This allows it to be better than it would be at 100 or more minutes. It gives you a few laughs and then lets you go home. It doesn't allow tedium to sap the few laughs. Kung Fu Panda is rated PG for sequences
of martial arts action. This is easily safe for any kid 8 and up. Though
do expect them to try out all the kung fu monkey moves around the house
for a few days. That is just a given. Despite the thin plot line and depth
less characters, Kung Fu Panda still has that Jack Black magic that can
save a film. Granted this is no where in the league of School of Rock or
Nacho Libre, but Black still manages to make a bad film at least tolerable.
I give it 3 out of 5 chopsticks. Take the kids, fill them up with candy,
and have some fun.
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