However the place “Kung Fu Panda 4” falters within the story, it makes up for with beautiful animation and meticulously choreographed motion sequences. Like a mixture of Jackie Chan and “Looney Tunes,” it is by no means boring watching Po be a talented martial artist whereas nonetheless sometimes fumbling his method to victory and success. For each well-executed punch and kick, there is a pratfall or galumph that additionally manages to get the job achieved. That is significantly entertaining in a sequence involving a dive bar on a cliff peak that begins to sway backwards and forwards, threatening to fall at any second, solely to be course-corrected because the motion shifts to completely different corners of the shack. Ronnie Chieng can also be a spotlight on this sequence, voicing a fish who makes use of a pelican like a vessel, which raises some bizarre questions.
One other unbelievable sequence unfolds as a chase by means of the streets of Juniper Metropolis, a brand new location that’s stated to be the house of The Chameleon. Since Zhen is a needed thief, she and Po should evade the authorities, and the abilities of composers Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro actually pop right here, as a result of they’ve created an orchestral model of Ozzy Osbourne’s basic rock tune “Loopy Practice,” which provides the sequence a up to date edge with out leaning into lazy needle drops like “The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film.” Juniper Metropolis can also be the place we meet Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan voicing a brand new character, an armadillo who oversees an underground contingent of shady characters, together with the hilarious violence-hungry youngsters glimpsed within the trailer. Quan’s character is not used to his full potential, however his voice brings an enthusiastic power and laughs to the proceedings.
It is sequences like this, together with anime thrives and a seamless mix of motion and laughs that hold “Kung Fu Panda 4” from being fully drained and boring. Granted, the story leaves one thing to be desired, and it is lacking one of many franchise’s signature traits, however as somebody who was underwhelmed by the trailers teasing Po’s return, I walked away feeling adequately entertained. Would I’ve most popular that the “Kung Fu Panda” franchise take this chance to raise itself in the identical means that “Puss in Boots: The Final Want” did in 2022? Completely. However “Kung Fu Panda 4” on this type continues to be stable.
/Movie Score: 6 out of 10