Review of Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) by Arnold K — 19 Mar 2012

"Kung Fu Panda 2" is a great movie and probably the strongest animated film to be released this year. The characters are very fun and I think they get more dialogue than they did in the first film, especially Monkey, who gives some pretty good one liners. Tigress stands out in this film. Her strong role as a supporting character is expanded upon and we get to know more about her. She develops from a hardcore Kung Fu master to a sympathetic and beloved character. It's a good thing because now she has more depth and we have a reason to care about her. The other characters are good and add a lot to this movie.

Lord Shen is probably one of the best villains Dreamworks has put out in a while. He is intimidating, has real motives for what he does, and he very intelligent. He some of the best scenes in the movie and it is a treat to watch him do Kung Fu. It's as if we are watching a moving piece of art and very beautiful to watch his feathers move.

Po, the main character, is as likable as ever and we have more to love in this film. We get to see a side of him that we've never seen and we can sympathies with him much more in this film than in the first. The relationship between Po and his father, Mr. Ping, is very touching and a joy to watch on screen.

The action sequences in this movie are over the top, in a good way. They don't just make the movie exciting, but they also movie the story along. The animation is top notch and are done very well, especially the hand drawn scenes. They add a lot of depth and are done well to connect Po to his past, as his memory becomes clearer, the hand drawn sequences become computer generated. The darker elements are handled well too and make Panda work on a different level than other Dreamwork efforts.

There are only a few problems with this film. First it's the comedy, no the jokes and gags are good (free of pop culture references and toilet humor is minimal), but it's the timing. Some of the comedic moments are done in very random places throughout the film. Sometimes during more serious moments, the jokes ruin the heart felt and edge of the seat moments. Another problem with this film is the pacing, sometimes. In certain scenes it feels as if the director wants the characters to go to the next point. It doesn't ruin the film, but hurts some moments in it.

Overall this film is wonderful and rivals the first. I personally like it more than the first. The characters are great, the animation is beautiful, and the jokes are funny. It is a very well developed film and a shoe in for a Best Animated Picture nomination. This movie shows what Dreamworks can do and I am excited to see where they go next. The film was also directed solely by a female director, a first for the industry.I give "Kung Fu Panda 2" a 4/5, gorgeous animation, amazing sequences, and a stellar story. A excellent score for one of the best films of this year.

"Muy Caliente".