This is a 2008 cartoon adventure with the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Randall Duk Kim, James Hong, Dan Fogler, Michael Clarke Duncan & Jackie Chan. It cost a whopping $130m to make but then went on to make $631m at the box office so the powers that be were happy. Its success has led to spin off tv shows and some more movies as well, oh and merchandise everywhere!
This film could have been a live action with Jack Black playing Po-Ping the giant panda is much like many of his other movie characters Jack has played. He dreams of being a Kung-Fu Master and idolises the Furious Five a Tigress, Monkey, Crane, Viper & Mantis who are led by Master Shifu (a red panda) who in turn is supported by a grand master Oogway a tortoise. Po’s dream is to join that gang and his dream will never be for filled as he is working in his father’s noodle restaurant and I guess he’s adopted as his father is a goose. They are the guardians of the Dragon Scroll which is said to give the owner ultimate power (I thought I would just mention that). The tortoise dude has a vision that the snow leopard Tai Lung will escape his prison and return to try and claim the dragon scroll. So, the master red panda calls the prison and tells them to tighten security and then decides to hold a tournament to find the ultimate bad-ass Dragon Warrior to guard the scroll. So, the tournament is set and the village gather to watch whilst Po is servicing noodles. He tries to get in to watch it and through a series of comedy timed events lands in the middle of the tournament to knock over the last competitor and the tortoise declares him the winner and the Dragon Warrior. With the five plus master knowing that this Panda is no master and not strong, skilled or brave enough to keep them, the village and the scroll safe they police academy-esk try to train him with the main aim of making him leave. With his dream coming real this is a dream come true scenario he isn’t going to give up lightly all whilst news of a prison break reaches them.
I hope these plots are setting up the stories and not ruining it for you. I may have to go back and clean up some of the reviews as I am trying to work out the best way to have you lot have access to reading them. This is an enjoyable movie I like Jack Black’s humour and we own it because both of my kids love this film. The older one knowing JB helped but I think both of them enjoyed it anyway. The slapstick funny’s work and who do gain affection for the characters as the threat to them is growing and moving closer to them ahead of the climax of the story. You can believe each character’s reaction to the story with each taking their take on the situation and their annoyance and anger whilst this bumbling great bear is making their lives hell. Knowing that rather than preparing themselves they are preparing an idiot to fight the toughest badass who they are all too familiar with is coming for them as far as they can. It works the mix works you forget the cartoon and feel for these guys. Once again go enjoy.
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