'Kung Fu Panda' Film Review
‘Kung Fu Panda’ is indeed every bit as ludicrous as its title suggests, but don’t let that put you off, because it’s not only the point but also the genius of this latest – and arguably second greatest – DreamWorks animated film. Po the Panda hasn’t quite knocked Shrek off his podium as DreamWorks’ golden boy, but his gallant attempt to become a Kung Fu master is every belly-aching moment as ridiculous as you would imagine – and then some – but it makes his transformation all the more rewarding.
This is a film about being true to ones own nature; about accepting the unique nature of others and capitalising on (or exploiting) their talents therein; and it’s also a film about parenthood. For Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), the deceptively diminutive red panda who is lumbered with giant panda Po (Jack Black) as a pupil, fatherhood becomes a matter of third time lucky. His first attempt, raising adopted snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane), goes hideously wrong; determined not to make the same mistake again, he then keeps a hurtful distance from his next young charge, Tigress (Angelina Jolie); and then there’s the unlikely Po.
Po’s ‘father’, a goose called Mr Ping, holds absolute unshakable belief in his son: belief that he will become a master of the noodle, that is (and it is a joyful subtlety of the film that the issue of Po’s true parentage is bravely approached from several angles but never directly addressed). Surprisingly enough though, Po has greater dreams for himself – the opening sequence, which introduces us to his kung fu fantasy, is sheer animated genius – and is indeed convinced to embrace his true destiny as the Dragon Warrior. Just not necessarily the dragon warrior he might have hoped to become, but the one he can become, and yes, that’s the moral kids: you can be anything, but you have to be your own unique version of whatever it is.
This is a film about being true to ones own nature; about accepting the unique nature of others and capitalising on (or exploiting) their talents therein; and it’s also a film about parenthood. For Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), the deceptively diminutive red panda who is lumbered with giant panda Po (Jack Black) as a pupil, fatherhood becomes a matter of third time lucky. His first attempt, raising adopted snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane), goes hideously wrong; determined not to make the same mistake again, he then keeps a hurtful distance from his next young charge, Tigress (Angelina Jolie); and then there’s the unlikely Po.
Po’s ‘father’, a goose called Mr Ping, holds absolute unshakable belief in his son: belief that he will become a master of the noodle, that is (and it is a joyful subtlety of the film that the issue of Po’s true parentage is bravely approached from several angles but never directly addressed). Surprisingly enough though, Po has greater dreams for himself – the opening sequence, which introduces us to his kung fu fantasy, is sheer animated genius – and is indeed convinced to embrace his true destiny as the Dragon Warrior. Just not necessarily the dragon warrior he might have hoped to become, but the one he can become, and yes, that’s the moral kids: you can be anything, but you have to be your own unique version of whatever it is.
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