Panda-monium is about to begin!
Kung Fu Panda
By Cheryl Leong
Director: Mark Osborne and John Stevenson
Starring: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross and Jackie Chan
Official website: http://www.kungfupanda.com/
Once upon a time, "legend told of a legendary warrior whose kung fu skills were the stuff of legend." Unlike most heroes however, his road to heroism is nothing short of… awesome.
Meet rotund, lovable panda Po (voiced by funnyman Jack Black), whose enthusiasm is matched only by his girth. This big fellow with even bigger dreams fantasizes about becoming a Kung Fu ace and fighting alongside his heroes, The Furious Five: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Monkey (Jackie Chan).
Po's father, Mr. Ping, a goose (don't ask), expects his son to take over his noodle-making business. When it seems like Po would have no choice but to accept his lot in life, he is unexpectedly chosen by Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) to be the "Dragon Warrior". Po now has to undergo Kung Fu training under Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), to save the village from the clutches of the power-hungry snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane), who has escaped from prison and is out for revenge against Master Shifu.
Except, Shifu is beside himself at the thought of having to train an oafish butterball. The Furious Five are not exactly ecstatic at the new addition either. Master Oogway tells Shifu to believe in Po as the "Chosen One" who would bring peace to the village and to Shifu, himself. Shifu then decides on a whole new game plan for Po's training (read: Food is the way to Po's heart).
In the final battle against Tai Lung, Po learns a thing or two about believing in himself, and the benefits of having just that little bit (okay, a lot) more meat than most.
The story is about your typical underdog (or panda, in this case), coming up tops against the non-believers, and saving the world along the way. But what makes Kung Fu Panda work so brilliantly is the subtle casting that brings the characters to life, without making them larger than life. Jack Black injects so much of his signature comic persona into the animated panda that he is Po. Black and Hoffman have so much fun bickering and going from exasperated antagonism to grudging camaraderie, that audiences can practically feel the palpability of their relationship.
The dynamic, inventive fight sequences are choreographed with enough oomph to put some of the live-action flicks to shame. Noteworthy scenes include Po and Shifu's heart-thumping fight over who gets the last dumpling, and the comic + action-packed showdown.
Kung Fu Panda will delight the kids with its cutesy, colorful landscape and characters. Adults, get ready for Po-proportion bellyfuls of laughter as Hoffman and McShane deliver line after line packed with ironic punch; the former, with characteristic deadpan utterances and poker face.
This is one giant, more than bear-able picture. You will definitely cave in to the awesomeness. HAI-YAH!
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