Kung Fu Panda - A-

This is not a typo.  This summer’s big box office child’s movie (competing with Wall-E) was playing at a very exclusive engagement here in DC and I was lucky enough to see it.  Jack Black plays Po the Panda, perhaps his best fitted role to date.

The setting is China, the focus, Kung Fu!  Po dreams of being a kung fu master like the Furious Five.  The FF consists of Tigress (Jolie), Viper (Lucy Liu), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Monkey (Jackie Chan) and Crane (David Cross) and they are pretty much the baddest thing since James Brown.  The five train at the Jade Palace on top of the Valley of Peace.  Po unfortunately does not train, he eats pretty well though.  His father is a goose who’s only wish is that his son inherit the family noodle biz.  One  villain and warrior choosing ceremony later Po is getting his dream shot.

He trains with Dustin Hoffman.  Not literally Dustin Hoffman, but the half fox half squirrel thing with Hoffman’s voice name Shifu.  He’s a learned teacher and disciple of the wisest sensei in all the land, Oogway.  Oogway is reminiscent of Mr. Miyagi (RIP) and is personified of course by an aging turtle.  Po does not possess 100th of the talent of the Five and everyone seems to know it but Oogway who selects him as dragon warrior!

I don’t like plot summary but I haven’t seen any trailers (surprsingly since I see the silence your cell phone ad every time I go to the theater) so I had to give some background.  Jack Black is the perfect panda.  He uses his tummy for basically everything and makes the awkwardness of his speech blend perfectly with the over imposing Panda body.  He’s clumsy, silly, and always hungry.  This type of fit hasn’t occurred since One Crazy Summer when Bobcat Goldthwait was trapped inside of Godzilla costume.

I saw this film with about 60-70 kids and their parents.  Usually the talking during the movie is a huge turn off, but I was so happy with the laughter of kids who were really enjoying the funny panda on the screen.  Po is just so damn cute!   Cuteness aside, this film is pretty darn clever.  The proverbs of Oogway must have rubbed off on the Dreamworks story crew, because a fat panda’s weakness becomes his strength in a delightfully charming and satisfying film.  If I didn’t know better, I’d say someone from Pixar had been brought over to the writing team.

The cast is cool, but I wasn’t really paying attention to their voices.  Like Nemo I enjoyed the animation of the many different animals inhabiting the Valley of Piece.  Hoffman’s Shifu reminded me a little too much of Yoda but I suppose any smart, tiny master will from now until the end of time.

If you like kids movies (remember I love them) this is one you shouldn’t miss.  If you love Pandas like I do, then you simply must take a child and prepare for a trip to the far east.

****Note, this film will be released in IMAX as well!****