Enter The Panda; Black has a field day in this fine family fare; great fun for everyone!

Rating: 9/10 (9 June 2008)

KUNG FU PANDA (2008) ***1/2 (Voices of: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Randall Duk Kim, James Hong, Dan Fogler, Michael Clarke Duncan, Wayne Knight, Kyle Gass, Laura Kightlinger, JR Reed) Very entertaining animated fare with Black voicing the wannabe titular character, Po, who may or may not be the destined martial arts savior for a village menaced by the sinister snow leopard Tai Lung (a scary good McShane) who wants revenge after being imprisoned by his mentor Shifu, the raccoon (Hoffman in fine, gruff but lovable form). Wonderfully realized animation from the amazing pre-credit sequence to the heroic ending. Fine family fare indeed; Black has a field day and some pleasantly surprising nuanced vocal chops. (Dirs: Mark Osborne and John Stevenson)