It’s very rare that animated sequels keep on producing the goods in their third instalment. Not many even get their first go right, never mind subsequent attempts. I’m delighted to say that Kung Fu Panda 3 can join renowned peers such as Toy Story and How To Train Your Dragon on this prized perch.
The original was great as a standalone film, establishing how our titular character (voiced by Jack Black) became a martial arts hero, and the second improved on this with even better actions scenes and humour. The third sees the popular panda move on to a teaching role while expanding on the series’ mythos with a solid story.
In this latest offering, Po’s long-lost panda father (Bryan Cranston) suddenly reappears and the reunited duo travel to the hidden panda village where Po was born. But when a supernatural villain named Kai (J K Simmons) shows up with the chi of every kung fu master in the Spirit Realm, Po must train his fellow pandas to defeat this new enemy.
What’s immediately obvious is that the directorial duo has honed every facet of what makes this franchise great. Most striking of these is the stunning animation, which has never looked better. The character designs and environments are breathtaking, and the set pieces rival most live-action films in terms of cinematography and scale. That’s not to mention the physical comedy, which is spot-on.
This is easily the most stylish Kung Fu Panda we’ve seen too. While the films have always incorporated hand-drawn elements, this film pushes them even further, including and especially during the action scenes. Hans Zimmer’s soaring score also helps to elevate the action and bring some grandiose to proceedings.
The voice acting is superb too. Jack Black is reliable as ever, bringing his trademark enthusiasm and eccentricity back to Po, who is the heart and soul of this movie and the character who provides the most laughs.
In addition, a slew of new characters get their time in the spotlight. Master Chicken and the flirtatious Mei Mei are immediate standouts, but the most notable cast addition is Cranston as Li Shang, who plays off Po and Po’s established adoptive father Mr Ping really well. Just like the previous movies, the family dynamic is one of the highlights in this as Po tries to balance his two father figures.
The film isn’t perfect though, especially for long-time fans who will see various repetitive elements crop up. These mainly concern Po, who faces up to many similar challenges that he has already overcome before, meaning that a positive outcome never feels under threat.
Furthermore, some scenes and plot angles feel redundant as a result, such as when the returning Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) explains to Po that he ‘still has much to learn’. Well, he’s already been told in previous films that he had learned all he could and was a fully-trained Dragon Warrior, so it’s to the film’s detriment that this theme is being pushed yet again.
Ultimately, fans both old and new, whether young or old, should find this film a joy to watch. With gorgeous animation, the top-notch voice work, a script rife with heart and humour, and a new story takes the characters to fun and exciting places with fresh characters, there’s plenty to love.
While Po’s character development gets repetitive at times, it all culminates in a gratifying, touching and climactic finale.
Unlike the previous films, which were left open-ended and hinted at more adventures to come, Kung Fu Panda 3 definitely feels like the end of a trilogy, and wraps up the Po’s story in a complete and satisfying way. If you’re already a fan, you should definitely see the series bow out on a high.
Showing at Novo Cinemas, Cineco, Seef II, Saar, Al Jazira, Dana Cineplex
Rating: 4/5
