Kung Fu Panda 3
2016, PG, 95 min. Directed by Jennifer Yuh, Alessandro Carloni. Voices by Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, James Hong, J.K. Simmons, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Kate Hudson, Randall Duk Kim.
REVIEWED By Kimberley Jones, Fri., Jan. 29, 2016
The panda is no longer the grasshopper. Now idolized as a kung fu master, if still a little unsure about his place in the world, the titular Po (voiced by Jack Black) is tasked in this third outing of the international blockbuster series with becoming teacher to his fighting unit, the Furious Five. And not a moment too soon, what with an evil, horned spirit named Kai (Simmons) threatening to steal the chi of every kung fu master in China.
The story takes inspiration from its setting without resorting to crude cultural caricature, although the script itself is only serviceable, ticking off preapproved-for-kids themes of community, sacrifice, and the importance of inner strength. Running in tandem with the action plot, there’s a nice, my-two-dads domestic thread, where Po has to broker a peace between his helicoptering adoptive father, the goose Mr. Ping (Hong), and his newly found birth father (Cranston). The humor – gentle, snark-free – is entirely age-appropriate, with roly-poly panda sight gags the order of the day. And that’s how it should be: Sight is Kung Fu Panda 3’s strongest sense. This is a visually stunning picture, a rhapsody of saturated color and contrasting texture, from the painstaking detail of coarse panda fur to the painterly dreamscape that is the spirit world. (See it in 3-D if you can.) The sound design is no slouch, either: The metal clang of Kai’s rattling chains and the mineral clack of the jade trophies he wears on his belt provide aural interest where the dutiful script does not.
A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
Marjorie Baumgarten, May 27, 2011
June 28, 2024
June 14, 2024
Kung Fu Panda 3, Jennifer Yuh, Alessandro Carloni