Kung Fu Panda: You don't Mess With the Panda!

I was impressed with Kung Fu Panda, espically in its slapstick comedy and the use of computer generated colors to paint the mood. The story is as simple as the title: a Panda - big, round, and out of shape - must go against all odds to master Kung Fu. There's a villian, a mentor, and a wise-old man, and the movie fills in to the usual kung fu formula between its real entertainment, the awkwardness of a Panda learning kung fu behind the voice of Jack Black.

Storyline is simple. Po is a panda who dreams of being a Kung Fu warrior, but is tied to his father (a duck) who dreams of him carrying on the noodle business. When Po is choosen by accident to have the title of "Dragon Warrior" to save the land from the rage of Tai Lung who has escaped from prison. His teacher disapproves of him for his previous students who dispise him, but Tai Lung comes closer with no progress in the panda's training.

The story exceeds expectations as a slapstick comedy. Not since The Emperor's New Groove have I hit my leg so hard with laughter from a cartoon. Although you may see some of the hits coming, there are a few that go beyond. They have a new, creative touch to the Kung Fu movie and a colorful way to express it.

The voices are a who's who. Dustin Hoffman does the voice of Po's teacher, although I didn't realize it until the credits. I would never have thought of Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) or David Cross (Alvin and the Chipmonks) as choices for Kung Fu characters, but they work on the same level as Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, and Lucy Liu. Additionally, Michael Clarke Duncan does the opposite of his Green Mile role and plays a prison guard.

The only faults I can find in the movie are cliche and aren't willing to make fun of the cliches enough. There's a scene where the wise old man gives the advice, "there is no bad or good news, there is only news," only to backpedal when he hears the news, "that is bad news..." This is a play on movie cliches and the wise old one-liners (to see a movie that abused one-liners like these, see The Peaceful Warrior and listen to Nick Nolte). The teacher racoon is as small as Yoda and has the mustache of every Kung Fu mentor before (see The Karate Kid, Kill Bill, and just about all Japanesse Kung Fu movies), but they aren't willing to make fun of it. Kill Bill made fun of all the Kung Fu movies styles before it when it named a style "Eagle's Claw" only for it to be a single-handed attack with Kung Fu grip. Kung Fu Panda pulls too many punches when it could make fun of so many movies before it like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz did, which led them to success. Panda's original material carries it through, but it's potential is more.

The artists did a good job with the color and landscaping, and the action scenes speak for themselves visually, where there isn't one that doesn't impress the audience. The fight goes to a new level as the characters take it there, and the visuals follow it all. It isn't Pixar-level, where they're showing us something new, usually a blend of two worlds. There is a question if this could have been better drawn instead of computer-animated, but I believe the answer is no. With Pixar, however, there is no question.

Is it entertaining? Yes. It is laugh-out-loud funny.

Is it for everyone? Yes. Both kids and adults will enjoy the humor of it.

Is it memorable? To an extent. It is better than most family comedies and likely to be one of the best this summer, potentially next to Get Smart and Wall-E.