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In 2008, Jack Black turned his wacky comic shtick into fun-filled animated silliness in DreamWorks’s .nightsandweekends.com/articles/08/NW0800290.php>Kung Fu Panda. Now the saga of the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five continues as Black’s lovably bumbling panda Po prepares to face a ruthless new rival in Kung Fu Panda 3.
The third film in the franchise finds Dragon Warrior Po going back to his roots in an attempt to battle a new enemy. When villain Kai (J. K. Simmons) escapes the spirit world with plans to steal the life force from every kung fu master in China, it’s up to Po and his friends to stop him. So as Po struggles to find what he needs to defeat this new threat, he reconnects with his long-lost father, Li (Bryan Cranston), and sets out to the secret panda village to learn to embrace his true self.
Like its two predecessors (the original and the sequel), Kung Fu Panda 3 is a striking animated journey through Po’s version of ancient China. Visually, it’s as beautiful as ever, employing various animation techniques, vibrant colors, and eye-catching Eastern touches to set the stage for another hard-hitting kung fu battle.
The story, however, is somewhat scattered—and sometimes confusing, too. The action revolves around Kai’s quest to steal the chi of great warriors and use it to gain power—and these mystical ideas may be a little too complicated for younger viewers. At the same time, the story also has a number of different plotlines running through each other: the battle against Kai, Po’s struggle to take on new responsibilities as the Dragon Warrior (including various awkward attempts at teaching his peers), his reunion with his father and experiences in the panda village, and his adoptive father’s fears and suspicions. Storylines come and go for long periods of time as others play out. And while each aspect of the story has its own appeal, when put together, the finished product feels rather disjointed.
Meanwhile, as the film spends time in the panda village, it introduces a whole bunch of new characters—all of whom are a lot like Po. In other words, more pandas means more silliness. And while that makes it cute and funny—and often charming, too—it also takes away from some of the action.
Kung Fu Panda 3 isn’t the strongest installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise; it’s wackier and less focused that its predecessors. But the colorful animation and lovable characters still make it a fun—and visually stunning—addition to a beloved series.
