After the depressing Wanted, I was looking for a bit of a pick me up and Jack Black seemed to be the man to supply it.
Where?
Cinema 5, Shaftesbury Avenue, 9pm.
Comments?
Kung Fu Panda is a lot of fun and a lot of it is down to Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman, offering up different styles of comedy in the guise of Po (the Panda) and Master Shifu (the smaller red panda). There are many humourous moments, a couple of laugh out loud funnies and the animation is top notch, making this an entertaining ninety minutes to sit through.
The plot is quite standard fare but that's all it needs to be: no need for complexity in a story about a clumsy Panda dreaming of fighting alongside the Furious Five (made up of the voices of Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan to name two of the five). Plot intricacies aside, Kung Fu Panda's strong points include attention to detail. I can't say I know much about Chinese custom or history, but the movie convinced me that the producers did, and that gave the movie some of its originality in the crowded computer animated movie stakes.
The fight scenes are also impressive, easy to follow with expressive moves and complex duels, including those that involve Po. The scene where Po takes on Master Shifu in a duel over a bowl of dumplings using chopsticks is highly engaging and entertaining.
Kung Fu Panda is a colourful, comical romp predominantly due to Jack Black, who is in top form. The kids will love it and the adults will find it good throwaway fun.
Would I pay to see it?
Tough question with this one. It isn't as impressive as Toy Story was or Wall-E is billed to be, but it's still great fun. Not necessarily one to see at the movies; more a DVD rental or Sky movie option for me.
Rating?
6 out of 10
Post Movie Quote:
"Jolie wasn't half as sexy in this one." Daryl Nilbett
1 comment:
still gotta see Kung Fu Panda... Jack Black is classic for sure; he'll be forever famous for his work in School of Rock
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