Review of Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) by Wayne K — 14 Mar 2016

To start with I should probably say that I wasn't a fan of the first 2 movies. They were certainly beautiful to look at, but they seemed to be composed mostly of a Panda falling over an annoying number of times.

Also, I'm not a Jack Black fan. But with that said, I still enjoyed the film. It wasn't great, but it certainly wasn't terrible. The visuals are stunning, as well as the colours and the fluidity of the animation.

There's a particularly good montage about halfway in which is especially fantastic. There's a fair amount of genuine laughs, 2 of the biggest ones coming from a terrific visual gag concerning a family portrait.

It's never forced or overused, and comes at just the right time. For me, the film leans too heavily on slapstick and Black repeatedly saying 'Awesome', which is one of the laziest running jokes in recent memory.

The premise is as old as time itself and the main plot beats are familiar, but it's not insulting to the intelligence, and it does have a fair amount of heart and charm. It won't convert any detractors of the series, but if you're a fan already and/or just looking for bright, colourful fun, it'll be right up your street.