You can only take slapstick comedy so far before it becomes meaningless and unfunny. This is a lesson Dreamworks must now learn from their latest hit, Kung Fu Panda. To be honest, I was impressed with Kung Fu Panda. It exceeded my expectations in many areas. These shining moments, however, serve to darken the weaker areas of the movie that need desperate help.
Much like Shrek, Dreamworks didn't hesitate putting some violence in this one. As a matter of fact, the fight sequences were surprisingly entertaining to adults and children alike. That is, they were fantastically well made, but didn't rely on intense gore or broken necks to be exciting. This is one of the most impressive feats the movie accomplished. The action aspect is enjoyable for the entire family.
The main character is played by Jack Black, well known for acting in comedy roles for live action movies. His voice translates well into an animated movie, thanks to some skillful facial animations that reflect Black's personality quite well.
The comedy aspect, too, can be enjoyed by the entire family, to some extent. The verbal jokes are new and creative, just as you would expect from Dreamworks. The nonstop slapstick comedy, on the other hand, becomes continually less funny after the first half-hour of the movie. Unlike Shrek, Dreamworks relied almost entirely on physical humor, and well over 75% of the jokes in Kung Fu Panda depict someone being injured in some goofy way. As a kids movie, you might consider this to be forgivable, but, even in theaters, I noticed the kids laughing less and less at the slapstick comedy throughout the movie. During the end of the movie, which is literally a straight 4-5-minute scene full of NOTHING but physical comedy, even the children in the theater were not laughing at all.
Because of this, it should be obvious that the ending of the movie is rather hollow. You might feel like your funny bone it still itching as you leave the theater.
The movie's story is extremely simple, so, obviously, there is little to be found in terms of a moral here. The "lesson" Kung Fu Panda attempts to deliver is "Have faith" or, rather, "believe and something will come true" because "faith" has apparently become a dirty word in Children's media as of late. In any case, don't expect your children to learn anything life-changing from this movie. Neither should you expect your children to leave with corrupt attitudes. It is quite charming in it's simplicity, actually.
Kung Fu Panda, while certainly imperfect and bound to be less popular than other Dreamworks productions like Shrek, is worth the time and money to see. It's perfect for families with children, or even casual dates. The voice acting and animation is fantastic, as would be expected. Jack Black
I give Kung Fu Panda a 3/5 Stars for adults, and a 4/5 stars for kids.