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REVIEW
March 20, 2024
Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
Great action scenes, occasional laughs but a weak storyline and missing fan-favourite characters make this a serviceable entry that leaves fans entertained, but not fully satisfied. By: Kritchanon Tan Kian Wei
Genres: Animation, Comedy, Action, Adventure, Kids
Distributor: Universal Pictures https://www.universalpictures.com/ (818) 777-1000
Length: 94 min
Producers: Rebecca Huntley
Production Companies: Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation
Description
In Kung Fu Panda 4, Po the panda (voiced by Jack Black) is tasked by Master Shifu (voiced by Dustin Hoffman) to find someone to take up the Dragon Warrior mantle, as he retires from the role to become the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace. Along the way, he teams up with a corsac fox named Zhen (voiced by Awkwafina) to defeat The Chameleon (voiced by Viola Davis), a shapeshifting sorceress that takes on the form of every villain Po has ever fought.
Whilst the movie has great action scenes and some comedic moments that land with audiences, the relegation of fan-favourite characters like the Furious 5 to voiceless cameos, and shoddy character work with franchise mainstays and newcomers makes Kung Fu Panda 4 feel inferior compared to its predecessors, especially the first two entries which felt masterfully crafted and resonated with viewers young and old.
Overall, though Kung Fu Panda 4 doesn’t quite hit the highs of its predecessors and lacks elements that longtime fans have come to love the franchise for, the film’s quick pace and attention-grabbing action scenes helps make the animated film a digestible and decently entertaining popcorn flick that casual viewers may still have a good time with.
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