The latest in Dreamworks’ ongoing efforts to perfect the art of wisecracking computer generated animals — Kung Fu Panda
The appeal of Dreamworks’ animated feature Kung Fu Panda is captured by its title. It’s a pleasingly absurd mental image, but it also suggests a combination of seemingly disparate elements. A lazy, out-of-shape martial artist; romanticism versus neoclassicism; yin and yang. Contrast becomes a vital element in observing and appreciating the world around us. If that sounds too hoity-toity for you, fret not — you’ll still get to see cuddly animals with celebrity voices doing high kicks and yelling “Hyaa!”
The kung fu panda of the title is Po (Jack Black), an undisciplined but well-meaning noodle chef who dreams of being a legendary martial artist, but who never acts on these dreams until compelled by fate. Having been picked out of a crowd by a doddering kung fu master (Randall Duk Kim as a kindly old turtle), Po finds himself responsible for protecting an entire town and begins a rigorous training program under the reluctant tutelage of the sour and disapproving kung fu master, Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). Po’s fellow students are the legendary Furious Five, dedicated and invincible fighters idolized by Po, but resentful of him for seemingly chancing upon a position they each worked hard to occupy.
Po is eager to learn, but makes little progress in his training until Master Shifu hits upon the inspired idea of snatching Po’s food away from him, and making him struggle to retrieve it. Suddenly, Po’s natural abilities emerge, as he fences with chopsticks over an elusive steamed bun.
Plot-wise, the Furious Five are given little to do — in fact, this might be the first film in history in which Jackie Chan's character (he lends his voice to a monkey) could be removed completely and nobody would notice. Still, what they lack in narrative contribution, they make up for in action set-pieces, as furry fists, claws, tails and tiny little mantis arms do their kung fu stuff.
This is simultaneously a family film and a martial arts epic, and I dare say that audiences from both camps will be pleased. All of the usual components of a good martial arts film are here; the boot camp sequence, the gradual earning of respect, the ruthless antagonist and the big showdown — but they are augmented by the comical and routine-deflating gags one finds in a funny-animals story. You'll get a kick out of it.
