‘Kung Fu Panda’ is DreamWorks’ Best Animated Feature since ‘Shrek’
-----‘Kung Fu Panda’ looked mildly amusing though somewhat of a cliché’ judging from its’ initial trailer. It was neither. ‘Kung Fu Panda’ is the best animated film from ‘DreamWorks’ since the original ‘Shrek.’ It’s brilliantly cast, the animation is flawless, the action is captivating, and the story is ultimately uplifting.
-----The story starts with Po (Jack Black) as a lowly noodle chef at his father’s restaurant. He dreams of being a Kung Fu master like his idols, the Fearsome Five. When ancient Kung Fu Master Oogway (Randall Duk Khim) foresees that the evil Tai Lung (Ian McShane) will escape from his isolated prison, Oogway decides it’s time to pick the prophesized Dragon Warrior. When Po is accidentally picked instead of a member of the Fearsome Five, Oogway says it was destiny. All of this begs the question; will Po, an overweight panda, be able to save the village from the dreaded Tai Lung?
-----Po is the animated equivalent of Jack Black’s personality and physicality. As was the case with ‘School of Rock,’ Jack Black brings this character to life, providing a lovable and relatable character in Po, a big fluffy panda. Animated films work best when there’s a true authenticity to the characters. For example, if an animated film is done well, you’ll forget the exaggerated look of the characters and they’ll be as believable as live action actors. This is the case with ‘Kung Fu Panda,’ as opposed to films like ‘Beowulf’ where the characters look perfectly realistic, but are in fact completely unbelievable due to the lack of heart and ability to relate with the audience. Furthermore, the all-star cast of ‘Kung Fu Panda’ lends itself as one of the best ensembles of the year. Dustin Hoffman is ideal as the strict Shifu; Angelina Jolie is fierce as Tigra, Lucy Liu soft as Viper, Seth Rogen hilarious as Mantis, Jackie Chan likeable as Monkey, as is the case with the rest of the cast. I have to give solid nods to the brilliance of the whole cast including those above and fun turns from Michael Clarke Duncan, David Cross, James Hong, Ian McShane, Randall Duk Khim, and Dan Fogler. It may seem like I’m just ranting now, but if you watch the film as many times as I already have, you’ll realize just how good everyone is.
-----The animation is brilliant with spectacular Chinese landscape and amazing attention to detail. The action is beautifully choreographed providing excellent entertainment to what could have been dutiful and dull scenes. The film is about as perfect as one can be for re-watch ability and it’s sure to be a classic for children, teenagers, and adults alike. The movie only improves upon a second viewing, and the comedy, whether it’s a one-liner or Po getting beat into the ground, is timeless. The movie doesn’t rely on spoofing every living thing like so many contemporary comedies do, but rather takes place completely in its’ own universe. This film is refreshing, delightful, and the best animated feature of the year.
-----Oscar Watch: Due to the limited number of animated films that are released annually, this one is sure to get a Best Animated Picture Nomination. Unfortunately, the Academy and most critics alike are in love with the somewhat overrated Wall.E, which will probably win the Oscar unanimously.
