Written by: PBF
Given its competition, Kung Fu Panda 2 is probably the last movie on most people’s list to go and see right now. I sincerely hope not, as Kung Fu Panda 2 is very enjoyable, even better than its predecessor and will entertain adults and children alike.
In the first Kung Fu Panda, we met Po (Jack Black), a panda with a goose (James Hong) for a father and devoted fan of the Furious Five, a group of Kung Fu masters. He defeated Tai Lung and attained the title of Dragon Warrior. In the sequel, China faces a new villain, a peacock named Shen (Gary Oldman). Shen has vowed to destroy Kung Fu and has developed a deadly weapon to help him accomplish this goal. While fighting a pack of wolves stealing metal for the weapon, Po notices a symbol and suddenly has a flashback of his mother. This prompts him to ask his father Mr. Ping where he came from, as clearly he could not have been born of geese. He learns that this is true, but the story he is told does not reveal much more than him being found as a baby panda in a crate in the back of Mr. Ping’s restaurant. Mr. Ping took him in a raised him as his own. Still having many unanswered questions, Po is often distracted in his battles with Shen and his minions. This irritates Tirgess (Angelina Jolie) as she fears this is compromising their mission.
Panda 2 is one of those sequels that somehow vastly improves from the first film. The jokes are funnier, the story is darker and more complex, Jack Black is less Jack Blackier. There is a lot more fighting and action. It just really takes the awesomeness of the first film makes it exponentially better.
As an adult, this film is very satisfying. It is visually quite stunning. The jokes aimed for adults are quite witty. What grown ups will most appreciate is the much darker and deeper story line. It’s just as interesting than any live action film’s plot and ties together very nicely.
Even more impressive is at the same time, every kid in the theater was just as engrossed in the film as I was. It successfully captures the interest of both kids and adult at the same time, rather than alternating captivating one and alienating the other scene after scene.
Even though you kind of know what will ultimately happen in the end and even if it hadn’t ended on a cliffhanger, the film makes you want to see more of this story. The first film did a nice job of introducing us to these characters, and the sequel delves deep in to the character development of Po. In the first film, we know very little about him, other than his fanaticism for the Furious Five and his hilarious ineptitude. This chapter starts telling us who he is and where he came from while simultaneously furthering his relationship with the Five on personal levels. I am very interested to see this progress.
I had a feeling I would enjoy this movie, but my expectations were exceeded. Thoroughly enjoyable and there isn’t anything not to like.
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