Kung Fu Panda 4 Review - Po Spreads His Skadoosh Magic Again

Kung Fu Panda 4 Review: Our dragon warrior Po is back, but without the furious five. But don't let that worry you, because he's got another companion this time. As nature's rule goes, you must have thought about Po passing his dragon warrior suit to someone someday, right? He took it from someone, so he must find a successor. Kung Fu Panda 4 is about Po retiring from his duties as a dragon warrior and taking on a bigger job. Despite this sentimental thought, the writing never becomes emotionally forceful or suppressive. It's a fun flick, just like the previous three films of the franchise, and that's the best part about it. You follow nature's laws and make it look acceptable—something that Toy Story 3 did way back in 2010. KFP 4 manages to score well on merits with its reliable writing and immensely enjoyable screenplay that follows all the traditional methods of the Kung Fu Panda franchise and yet cooks a delicious dish from different ingredients.Po, the Dragon Warrior, is enjoying his adventurous duties just before Master Shifu comes and makes him acquainted with several facts that he must face—sooner or later. Master Shifu commands Po to find a new dragon warrior, a successor, so that Po can take over the bigger duties of the spiritual master of the Valley of Peace. There is a new villain, the Chameleon, a powerful sorceress who can shape-shift into any animal she wants and wants to capture every city and realm. Po, along with his new companion, Zeon, heads to Juniper City to take down the Chameleon. Will Po be able to stop the chameleon, or will he fail to make the right decisions?Written by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, and Darren Lemke, Kung Fu Panda 4 may not be a great story, but it's not boring or bad at all. Yes, it looks repetitive since animation films in this zone have to have positive endings and mainstream emotional drama. However, it's not dragging. The screenplay is engaging, and there is a lot of comedy for kids, youth, and adults. From "No secret ingredient" to "Change is a must" or "It's never too late to do the right thing," we have come a long way with this franchise, and the fourth one just proudly salutes that spirit. Entertaining, hilarious at times, thoroughly humorous, and action-packed—that's what Kung Fu Panda 4's screenplay is all about. It may go wrong with a stretched ending where we know that the villain is going to be defeated, and it takes a little longer than expected to come to that mandatory point, but thankfully, it does not fall flat.The voice cast has done well again. Since there was nothing bad to do, let's say, they have been nice and perfect. Jack Black is your favourite Po, Awkwafina is your new, soon-to-be favourite, Viola Davis is the deadly Chameleon, Dustin Hoffman is our master Shifu, and then you have Po's fathers, James Hong and Byran Cranston, with plenty of funny punches. Ian McShane is Tai, a small but important role. The entire town's gang shouting "violence violence" has been "bloody" hilarious!The quality of the animation work by DreamWorks Animation was never questioned before and won't ever be. The studio has done amazing work with the production design, visual effects, and 3D development of this blockbuster franchise. I can never forget little Po's cute panda face from the first film and how cute he has looked while growing up until now. In Kung Fu Panda 4, we miss Po's gang, but the underground gang can be called a new discovery here. How they react to wise words and chant violence without being sarcastic made my brain and heart both laugh together. The background score was okay, and the editing is pretty decent. The last 10 minutes could have been trimmed better than this. Mike Mitchell's new tower of Kung Fu Panda is made from the bricks of previous Kung Fu Panda flicks, so it's not completely different and new, but like nostalgia merging with the energy of a new generation. Overall, a healthy and heavy Panda flick that must be enjoyed if you don't want to disturb your "inner peace." Now, don't say "dinner, please," or I'll start craving.