Kung Fu Panda: Review By Diaigma

"Legend tells of a legendary warrior, whose kung fu skills were the stuff of legend!" - Po

The summer of 2008 was a busy season for this animation buff, to the point that Dreamworks' latest entry came and went without my knowing. A film about Asian-based animals that do Kung Fu - sounds engrossing enough, but after the rancorous "ogre" that Shrek the Third left behind (which lingered like a noxious swamp gas), I wasn't exactly encouraged to make this Jack Black-infused ex'panda'ganza a viewing priority. What a fool I was! Bored on a cold winter's night, we gave this a rent. Know what? It was awesome! Kung Fu Panda literally knocked the wind out of us like a well-placed center punch, induced spontaneous Shaolin moves in our living room, and reinvigorated the use of 'awesome' in our household.

Po loves Kung Fu-a panda whose room is littered with more kick-butt knickknacks than a Chinatown pawnshop, above the noodle house where he and his "quack" of a father work. Then, when a vision occurs of a dangerous master returning to the Valley of Peace, those of the Jade Palace know that only the Dragon Warror can save them - so it's time to pick one! When Po tries to sneak a peak at the ceremony, he is suddenly thrust into action by the whimsical humor of the universe and is chosen. How can THE fat panda save us, especially when he's never thrown a punch, and there are five "furious" candidates who are more fit and able? If Po is to save the Valley of Peace, he must stop noodling around and find the hero within him-somewhere . . .

What ultimately sets Dreamworks apart (that created a new trend) from other animation studios is their inventive production promos. From its inception to end, the animation and music enamors with a well-conceived introduction to a world of animals in ancient Asia, and a vehicle to introduce Po. Starting a story with a character waking up from a dream is a grievous no-no, one of the three deadly story killers in some circles, but after wiping away tears of laughter, the beginning is more than redeemable. Not a single frame wasted.

Each character was paired sublimely with the right voice, making Dustin Hoffman an unlikely, but perfect sensei, Angelina Jolie a ferocious tigress, and Jack Black the epitome of a Kung Fu fanboy. Coupled with an uncomplicated story and a moral message that's truly in the eye of the beholder, this film brings a whole new level to "zero-to-hero," that's not easily forgotten, thanks to Hans Zimmer and John Powell's score.

Breathtaking art design and amusing character renderings add the much-needed flavor to Kung Fu Panda's visual broth; rich in color, organic in nature, and tasteful in respecting its foreign inspiration. Much attention was given to the styles of Kung Fu, caricatured by the animals of their name, and executed with hilarious action that only boundless animation can accomplish.

Kung Fu Panda is not without error. The story could up the ante, a few minor misplacements that most won't catch unless pointed out, and the admired-to-sidekick backseat taken by all of the Furious Five (minus Tigress). A few plot points were never resolved or exploited further, but with the knowledge that this righteous adventure is only the beginning of a six-film franchise, I can see the wisdom for not covering all of their bases in one fell snap kick.

What impressed me most about Kung Fu Panda was Dreamworks' earnest endeavor to abandon the snarky reputation set by previous titles, while maintaining a genre-satirical, heartfelt, and fun identity without trying to copycat the formulas of a more well-known and worshiped studio. This film set Dreamworks as a force to be reckoned with and the lasting competitor in animated features. How To Train Your Dragon exists to seal that affirmation (and add another franchise).

If you've yet to see this fur-raising spectacle of sheer awesomeness, you're more than invited to cast your peepers on this near-perfect gem. Not a bad idea, since The Kaboom of Doom is now amok.

Ska2oosh? Sock it to me!

***

Rated PG: for sequences of martial arts action

Directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne

Runtime: 92 Minutes

(By Movieweb's Diaigma: resemblance to other reviews is coincidental)