Review of Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022) by 4Everafter — 11 Dec 2022

If you've seen Kung Fu Panda a couple of times, go watch it again instead of watching this. This is an inferior Kung Fu Panda (which was, itself, flawed) and an inferior Blazing Saddles. It isn't terrible but it ultimately doesn't justify it's existence.

Ricky Gervais is awful in this. He honestly might be the world's worst (highly successful) comedic actor. Probably not, but he's up there. It's hard to say if Paws of Fury is his worst performance. He's just Ricky Gervais, like back on his podcast. Like you just called him up on the phone and he read the script to you.

I'm going to say it: Mel Brooks wasn't that funny back when he was in his prime. Blazing Saddles hasn't aged well. Comedy doesn't age well, in general. It would be a miracle if 90+ year old Mel Brooks was funny. He's a legend and this is nostalgia blurring what does and doesn't work.

They should focus on making a film that kids really engage with, rather than trying to emulate the comedic stylings of a man who was in his prime 50 years ago.

It sounds like I hated the film. I didn't hate it. It's completely forgettable but passable entertainment. Not a lot of laughs. Michael Cera and Samuel L Jackson are good. It has some charm.