Dreamworks should be Proud

Rating: 10/10 (3 July 2008)

After the garbage that was Shrek 3, Over the Hedge, and SharkTale, and the only mediocre Madagascar, when I saw the preview for Dreamwork's newest film Kung Fu Panda, I laughed at the stupidity of a movie involving an overweight Panda trying to become a kung fu master. Eventually my sister dragged me to see it with her, where I discovered just how sorely wrong I was.
Not only is Kung Fu Panda visually appealing - the animation and scenery is breathtakingly beautiful - well written - you'll find a deeper and more engaging story here than merely a Panda trying to master martial arts - and hilarious - there are a multitude of hysterical jokes, which astonishingly are nearly all kid-friendly - but it manages to grasp what other Dreamworks films cannot even attempt: a heart. The fight scene between the awesome master Shifu and the truly evil Tai Lung doesn't only work because of the fantastic animation and the dramatic music, but because of the background story that was worked into it. The secret of the dragon scroll was so heartwarming that even the harshest critic will be touched. Po, instead of being rude and arrogant like I expected, was lovable and his longing to reach his goal is something all of us can identify with. The Furious Five's gradual acceptance of and friendship with Po was sweet and Shifu is perhaps the best-developed character in Dreamworks history. His quest for inner peace and the troubling relationship with Tai Lung in his past lead to some extremely emotional scenes. Even the end credits and the touching scene that follows them are wonderfully visually appealing.
Some people are saying that they don't like this movie, because it supposedly glorifies obesity and stupidity. I say they must have gone to the movie theater wearing blindfolds and earplugs. Po didn't succeed in facing Tai Lung because of his weight; he succeeded because he believed in himself! This movie teaches us that we are all special and loved regardless of size, body shape or race, something important we should really be teaching our future generations.
So all in all, go and see Kung Fu Panda! It's right up there with Pixar's finest like Finding Nemo and will be a film the whole family will love!