Jack Black's back, only this time its digital.

Rating: 6/10 (1 July 2008)

Were sure it's not easy being an animated flick in a world where everybody can't wait for WALL-E but even with this looming Kung Fu Panda was not scared away. A valiant attempt to outdo Pixar is slightly smouldered by its misuse of its supporting cast (Angelina Jolie, Luci Lu and Jackie Chan) However with the failure that was Shrek the Third this is a film that puts DreamWorks credibility back on the line, will it ever be as good as Pixar? Probably not but Kung Fu Panda proves it can (at very least) look better than Pixar.
Visually, Kung Fu Panda is pretty unstoppable. High flying kicks and punches that can't be replicated in real life making this a must see for martial arts fans but the low brow humour and the fact that while the film manages to pull off some stunning visual treats but never really going anyway with the plotting makes this a fun but ultimately forgettable movie event. Brilliantly beautiful if a little flat. Black seems less irritating in GCI but the films wastes the rest of its unused cast.
A clumsy panda bear becomes an unlikely kung fu hero when a treacherous enemy spreads chaos throughout the countryside in this animated martial arts adventure featuring the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, and Jackie Chan.
On the surface, Po (voice of Black) may look like just another portly panda bear, but beneath his fur he bears the mark of the chosen one. By day, Po works faithfully in his family's noodle shop, but by night he dreams of becoming a true master of the martial arts. Now an ancient prophecy has come to pass, and Po realizes that he is the only one who can save his people from certain destruction. with time running short and malevolent snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane ) closing in, Furious Five legends Tigress (Jolie), Crane (David Cross ), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), Monkey (Chan), and their wise sensei, Master Shifu (Hoffman), all draw on their vast knowledge of fighting skills in order to transform a lumbering panda bear into a lethal fighting machine. Now, if the noble Po can master the martial arts and somehow transform his greatest weaknesses into his greatest strengths, he will fulfill his destiny as the hero who saved his people during their darkest hour.
With its negatives looming, Kung Fu Panda still manages to do better than thoses DreamWorks disasters (Madagascar, Shark Tale) and while it didn't quite live up to the hype, and it won't do anything with the release of WALL-E. Kung Fu Panda is a great kids movie with several laughs that will even have the tightest ass hole laughing.
It's in the superb visuals and the fact that Kung Fu Panda really did try. It excels, but not enough to be noticed. It works however as a decent enough bridge to WALL-E, while its a crying shame that a film devoted to hard work simply cant stride far enough to be something truly spectacular. My final verdict? Give it ago, but don't go in expecting Shrek 2 or erm ... any other good DreamWorks animations? No? Oh well.