Kung Fu Panda
(John Stevenson, Mark Osborne):
Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen.
Running time: 91 minutes
Dreamworks steps up its game with this warm, funny family animation. Jack Black is ideal as the voice of Po, that unbridled enthusiasm of his spilling out all over the picture. Po is an overweight noodle-stall Panda who dreams of being a kung-fu master. In hilarious circumstances, involving a chair with fireworks tied to it, Po becomes the chosen one, which means he has to defend the village from Tai Lung, a belligerent snow leopard (voiced in plum English tones by Ian McShane) who escapes in a dazzling sequence from jail.
Po’s sensei, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), with grave tone and noodle moustache, has to turn the hapless Po into a master overnight. It’s an arduous task considering Po has an overeating disorder. Perhaps he would do better with Gillian McKeith.
The story, carved in postcard China, shimmers with jade. There’s a lot of slapstick, including Po’s fat Panda arse careering and crashing in slow-mo, while the kung-fu itself is crisp and clear, bringing you right in on top of the action without disorientating you. Refreshing too how it eschews the usual hodge podge of cultural references. A smart, simple story goes a long way.
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