Review of Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) by The D — 29 Jul 2013
(6/10).
I have to confess - I have never seen the first Kung Fu Panda. I hear all sorts of great things about it, but I always decided to skip it. For some reason, I watched the sequel and was underwhelmed immensely. People seem to really love this sequel too, and I can find reasons why in this film, but it never really engaged me that much. If the first one is anything like the sequel, then it's enjoyable enough, but forgettable. Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad movie by any means, but there isn't anything in this movie that makes it stand out from other, superior animated films.
The vocal talent and animation in this film are all top notch and I didn't have any problems with the film in that respect. What I did have a problem with was that I was never fully engaged or emotionally attached to the characters. My favorite character in the film by far is the villainous stork played by Gary Oldman.
The best scenes in the film are the flashback scenes explaining Po's back story and his relationship with the villain who's name escapes me. Those flashback scenes are surprisingly dark and involving compared to the rest of the movie.
Another problem with the film is that it is very predictable and there are a lot of forgettable characters in the main group.
There are a few types of animated films. There are the ones Pixar and Studio Ghibli make that cater to children and adults alike, there are animated movies that only cater to adults that kids won't enjoy, and then there are animated films that cater to children much more than they do to adults. Kung Fu Panda 2 belongs to the latter category and kids will probably eat this movie up. Adults may find the plot uninvolving and predictable, but children will most likely be thoroughly entertained.
Overall, I recommend this film to any fans of the first film, and anybody below the age of 14 will probably enjoy it. The animation is decent and the voice talent provides enough laughs to keep adults audiences entertained.
This review of Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) was written by The D on 29 Jul 2013.
Kung Fu Panda 2 has generally received positive reviews.
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