Release Date:
Friday, June 6, 2008
Directed by: Mark Osborne and John Stevenson
The Skinny: Po, a pudgy kung fu–worshipping panda (voiced by Jack Black), is tabbed the unlikely “Dragon Warrior,” chosen to save his village from Tai Lung, a snow leopard out for revenge. His heroes, the legendary Furious Five and their master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), transform Po from a tub of lard to a tub of lard who can kick some serious tail.
The Good: If you like kung fu movies, you're in for a treat. All the standards are herehigh-flying fight scenes, mid-fight freeze frames, and the wisdom of mysterious masters. As Po goes from lumbering sloth to butt-kicking machine, we witness a Rocky-worthy training montage that pretty much makes the flick.
The Bad: Despite what we kept telling ourselves, it’s a children's movie, so some of the jokes are predictable and the plot is fairly basic. But with animation this entertaining, who cares? Just ignore the gaggle of giggling 10-year-olds behind you.
Jacknacular: Even with Black’s buoyant physique and oddball facial expressions missing from the film, the man churns out so many hilarious phrases that his tubby funniness is palpable through the computer animation.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in Five Years? The visuals are so great, it's worth ponying up for IMAX.
The Skinny: Po, a pudgy kung fu–worshipping panda (voiced by Jack Black), is tabbed the unlikely “Dragon Warrior,” chosen to save his village from Tai Lung, a snow leopard out for revenge. His heroes, the legendary Furious Five and their master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), transform Po from a tub of lard to a tub of lard who can kick some serious tail.
The Good: If you like kung fu movies, you're in for a treat. All the standards are herehigh-flying fight scenes, mid-fight freeze frames, and the wisdom of mysterious masters. As Po goes from lumbering sloth to butt-kicking machine, we witness a Rocky-worthy training montage that pretty much makes the flick.
The Bad: Despite what we kept telling ourselves, it’s a children's movie, so some of the jokes are predictable and the plot is fairly basic. But with animation this entertaining, who cares? Just ignore the gaggle of giggling 10-year-olds behind you.
Jacknacular: Even with Black’s buoyant physique and oddball facial expressions missing from the film, the man churns out so many hilarious phrases that his tubby funniness is palpable through the computer animation.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in Five Years? The visuals are so great, it's worth ponying up for IMAX.