Dir: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson Voice Cast: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu
Kung Fu Panda 2
U; Animation
Dir: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson
Voice Cast: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu
Rating: ****
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I watched Kung Fu Panda at a city multiplex when it first hit theatres in 2008. I remember thinking, "Bleh, another animation flick about talking animals". What could they do that would make it stand out in memory? When I walked out of the theatre an hour and a half later, after rocking the rickety seats after keeling over laughing several times throughout the movie, I had my answer.
Sure, Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan and Dustin Hoffman seemed reason enough to go catch the flick. But it was the new spin to an old oft told tale, with superb writing and crackling dialogue and the sort of madcap action you'd see in a JC film, that made me go for repeat watches. I still catch the film whenever I can on TV. Never gets old, you see.
But that was then and this is now. A sequel, as you must know, bears the burden of living up to the benchmarks of the first film set. The expectations skyrocket and the humour just has to be laugh-your-gut-out types. Oh, and if you can retain the cast ufffd splendid. As they say, if it ain't broke...
On those counts, KFP2 gives you all you wished for and more. The artwork, the animation and the action are all edgy, fresh and thoroughly worked on. Where the film failsu00a0- and I am just nitpicking here - is in having a decent enough villain for Po to stand up against.u00a0
The baddie is called Peacock and relies on his brains to get the big jobs done and on the brawn of his wolf goons to get rid of the riffraff. If you've seen The Last Samurai, you'll know the dilemma here. In KFP2's case, it is saving China and Kung Fu from total extinction.
So the Furious Five (Snake, Mantis, Tigress, Crane, Monkey) and Po, the Panda set out to bring the Peacock to book. It isn't easy. The bird-brain has actually defeated the best in business with the help of enhanced cannonballs and has amassed a big army.
Meanwhile, Po is trying to find inner peace and discover who his birth parents are, but keeps coming up against a wall. That is, until he meets his enemy. Then on, it's a battle for survival. The laughs come quick and fast and more often than not. As a comedy that demands repeat viewings, it excels. Go for it with your l'il ones, your siblings, your friends, your family or even alone. You'll come back for more. Enjoy!
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