Review of Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) by Bttrmovies — 02 Feb 2016

I didn't go into this movie expecting a lot. I mean, who could be? It is the third movie in a franchise about a Panda who learns Kung Fu. In fact, the very idea that this film series would reach a third entry would be an unbelievable feat. But a funny thing happens in the movie and the series, and major props need to be given to lead character Jack Black. I don't think this series succeeds without him. He brings a heart yet goofiness that you can't help but feel as the movie progresses. And just like this series, which I didn't think would work, this film proves me wrong.

Now that isn't to say that Black is the only reason this series works. The story is fresh in a world filled with reboots and overdone cliche stories. This film is a classic homage to the hallmark Kung Fu films of the 70s, where good triumphs over evil and the main character, never wavering and true to himself, comes out on top. And Po does just that. When an ancient villain comes back from the spirit realm, Po finds himself targeted in Kai's quest for ultimate power. During all of this, Po's birth father shows up to find and reconnect with his son, as well as take him to his hometown so he can meet all of the other Pandas. This arrival of the birth father leads to a confrontation with his adopted dad, who feels worry that he will lose his son to his birth father.

This storyline hits a chord with me. I think a lot of us nowadays are either children of divorce or know someone who is. The idea of having a new extended family because of a stepfather or adopted father isn't a foreign one to children. Yet we don't get a lot of stories touching on that, or if they do it's sometimes horror stories about mean step families. This is a tale that teaches acceptance and the good things that can come from having a larger than usual extended family. A scene towards the end of both fathers holding out hope for Po and working together sends the message home that you can have more than the "traditional" family and gain something from it.

If I had to find a negative for the movie, it would be the size of the cast list. The cast is good and they all do a good job, but it feels like there is too much going on at times for all of these characters and they become wasted in the story. I wish they would have simply had a few sit this one out instead of setting the table for all of them and then pushing so many to the fringes.

The animation and story are crisp, and the voice acting is good and over the top without feeling fake. I don't know if the actors had much interaction with each other but it certainly felt as though they had a chemistry and didn't just record lines in a booth one rainy day and then move on, never to consider that job again. JK Simmons and Bryan Cranston were great, if not under noticed as usual. Jack Black was perfect for the character as previously mentioned, and the movie never lingers too long or wastes a moment. This movie is the perfect Sunday movie where you can take the family, laugh, learn something, and leave feeling good about yourself. I cannot wait to see what the filmmakers come up with next in this series, and hope it can maintain this level of storytelling and casting.