An animated film about a Panda and Kung Fu. What’s the worst that could happen? OK. So, firstly I have to admit that I’m no longer in the 12 or under category and so possibly shouldn’t have been spending my hard earned cash going to see what is essentially a kids flick about a world of animals living in China in the distant past. I’ve done worse. Nevertheless, for the money the film is just about worth it although don’t expect to be thinking about it a moment longer than your feet leave the cinema property. That said, for the time the films runs, if you let yourself, you can suspend your disbelief… just.
‘Kung Fu Panda’ is a lightweight comedy, a morality tale – never count anyone out. Even podgy Pandas' have something to give and even baddies have reasons why they’ve turned out like they have. I can’t think why the studio willing paid out what must have been a packet for the voices of well known stars such as Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie or Lucy Liu. It wasn’t worth it. (But Ian McShane was, please note!) The animation style was great – the beginning of the film probably the stand out section – an Asian inspired animation bookending the piece with an historic myth story leading up to the main play. I think it was this, and the finale piece, again with the stylised animation and an updated version of the tune ‘Kung Fu Fighting’, which really entertained me.
Panda is a slightly plump dreamer living and working with his ‘father’ (a duck of sorts, yes it’s weird and alluded to a few times in the film) in the family run noodle restaurant. But this is not the life Panda aspires to. Panda, played by Jack Black, is clumsy, idealistic and food-obsessed but having been inspired by the famous group of Kung Fu fighters making their names throughout the land fighting baddies, decides to try out for their team. Hilarity ensues when he can’t even get himself into the stadium to show off his skills without avoiding injury to both body any dignity.
The film eventually gets going when Panda finds his destiny does indeed lie in becoming the martial arts hero he believed he was destined to become. The other team members – a snake, a crane, monkey, tiger et al, are not impressed but are led by their mentor, a funny looking mammal creature voiced by Hoffman, and the legendary visions of a once great martial artist. Training Panda is pretty funny. Cast your mind back to any great martial art film, or even ‘sport’ orientated film, like ‘Rocky’, and you’ll get an idea of the kind of set up presented here. Dodging fast missiles, running the gauntlet of turning, spinning logs, running up hills etc etc. Poor Panda doesn’t seem to stand a chance until… here’s the big joke, he finds he can do almost anything with the promise of food as a reward… Not a fan of that joke? Tough, it’s the basis of the rest of the film and you then know how it will all end… Say no more.
I’m sure kids and those of a softer disposition will have loved the film, but for me it was joke-light and weight-heavy (the Panda’s weight that is – ok, we get it, he likes food and is a bit big…. So what!!!) It isn’t a bad film at all, just not for me. Adults could easily have been catered for with more in-jokes or even more historical comment (sorry, what a bore I am???) to no real cost to the film and its intended audience, the kids. I suppose my concession is that the overall moral is worth while telling – no matter what you look like, everyone is capable of something special. Unfortunately, the film just wasn’t. You may beg to differ… but I’ll fight you for it. (Food fight, that is.)
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