Light Entertainment

Rating: Null/10 (24 January 2011)

Kung Fu Panda is better than most Dreamworks animated films, using a screenplay with quite a few clever moments to tell the simple story of a panda who becomes an unlikely kung-fu hero.
Po serves as a fairly standard main character, longing to escape his dull life at a noodle restaurant and train as a martial artist. Unfortunately, he's a panda, rotund and uncoordinated, so he's stuck where he is. This changes when a prophecy reveals him as a Dragon Warrior, and he's taken to train with the kung-fu masters he's idolized: the Furious Five.
The movie is light on character and plot, we've seen these movies many times before: the underdog who perseveres to victory, and we have the montage sequence and menacing villains, colorful supporting characters. Jack Black gives a good performance as the voice of Po, same for Dustin Hoffman as a diminutive kung-fu sage. The Furious Five voice talent boasts some impressive names behind it, a shame since they're mostly relegated to shouts and grunts.
Character design was interesting, I was especially taken with the turtle and the glowing eyes of the tigers, and the background paintings were exquisite. Perhaps it's sad, then, that the actual martial arts sequences were often disappointing, they move so fast and feature so much camera-work that they become hard to follow.
All in all, Kung Fu Panda takes a familiar story and does it well, not much substance, but mostly fun, with a good dash of wit, charm, and nice presentation. They really went all-out on the color in this movie, itself a visual feast. The opening scene and end credits feature a hand-drawn style, and is certainly worth a few more points towards Dreamworks.
Those seeking light entertainment should check it out, and I think kids may enjoy it, though some of the battle scenes might be a bit scary for them. I report that it left a smile on my face; not beaming, like How to Train Your Dragon, but smiling nonetheless.