Across the vast lineup of DreamWorks Animation films since their 1998 inception, the Kung Fu Panda franchise is one of the studio’s most recognizable properties. While the goofy characters and colorful atmosphere keep younger audience members glued to the screen, each installment in the original trilogy stood on its own with a compelling narrative and irrefutable heart to also satisfy the adults. The original trilogy explores the flourishing of unlikely relationships between Po and the Kung Fu masters within the Furious Five he has forever idolized. Its last outing back in 2016 introduces us to his joyous father, acting as a nice final bow on this story for eight years.
Heading into this most recent revitalization, there were many signs indicating it could end up being the series’ weakest. Each member of the iconic Furious Five is missing, the budget is far and away the lowest, and though the last few credits of director Mike Mitchell have performed well financially, the mixed reception to titles like Trolls and The Lego Movie 2 offered some apprehension. Unfortunately, those worries were confirmed after watching as Kung Fu Panda 4 is unable to justify its own existence with an uninspired story, repetitive villain, and rushed character arcs.
Considering all its shortcomings, it’s commendable that Jack Black once again returns to the main role without missing a beat, bringing an irresistible charm and comedic nature to the character that couldn’t be fulfilled by any other actor. Also returning in smaller roles are his two fathers of Bryan Cranston and James Wong, who cultivate a funny dynamic across their minimal screen time. Introduced to the franchise is Awkwafina as Zhen, a fast talking fox that may just be what Po needs to track down Viola Davis’ Chameleon, the new villain reminiscent of JK Simmons’ Kai in the previous film as she gains her abilities from others.
While each of these performers have flexed their acting talents in a variety of projects, Davis’ efforts are especially admirable, as she more than fits the bill in her first ever voice performance. Stacking up against the previous three villains, however, despite her overall powers surely trumping them, her motivation to conquer the valley is arguably the most dull. In the role of second fiddle to our main protagonist, Awkwafina plays a character that is difficult to latch onto given her estranged upbringing. Through all the hi-jinks she and Po find themselves in, her character eventually reaches an arc that feels entirely unearned in the greater context of this universe, bound to leave a sour taste in the mouth of fans who’ve been watching since the original like myself.
With only $85 million in its production budget, the cost of this fourth film is just slightly more than half of the first, which came in at $130 million. Right out the gate, the reason given for the absences of Crane, Mantis, Monkey, Tigress, and Viper comes across as a poor excuse within the film’s own universe. As Po had developed an incredible dynamic with each of them over three films, the efforts made here to recreate that with new characters are commendable, though it never comes close to measuring up as it feels rushed over the course of one movie. The downgrade coincides with the least immersive setpieces of the entire series, with one scene notably opting to visualize the action through black and white silhouettes rather than the wondrous environment they’d been establishing. The quick-paced, rapid-fire editing never grants the audience a chance to take in the illustrious scenery, instead seeming like it’s rushing to reach an inevitable conclusion no one had been either expecting or asking for.
While another outing with everyone’s favorite panda martial artist is undoubtedly welcomed, the story Kung Fu Panda 4 chooses to tell is certainly not the way to bring him back after an eight-year hiatus. There isn’t anything deeper for Po to learn about himself, the immense power of the lead villain is never fully recognized, and the conclusion by the end is not rewarding for the overarching story we’ve now followed for over 15 years. Some newcomers to the franchise probably won’t find much wrong with the tale by the end, but they also won’t be finding any reason to check out the previously established trilogy, which is a tragedy given the passionate character development, intense action sequences, and authentic sense of camaraderie throughout.
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