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Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Director: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson

Time Out rating

Average user rating

52 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

‘Kung-Fu Panda’ is one of those movies where one assumes the title came first and the entire plot was then extrapolated by committee. Rotund, noodle-selling bear Po (voiced by Jack Black) discovers that he is the living embodiment of an ancient Shaolin legend, which drives him to train as a martial arts expert and confront psychotic snow leopard Tai-Lung. He’s aided on his quest by crotchety Zen master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) and his menagerie of high-flying wire-fu legends, the Furious Five.

There’s no chop-socky cliché too hackneyed for the filmmakers to make meat of. Inscrutable, riddle-spouting guru, check. Ancient mystical jade temple, check. Uptempo training montage, check. The setting is a sort of Disneyland version of ancient China, all fast-running waterfalls, snapping chopsticks and spiralling bamboo parasols. The script is as thin as rice paper and the characters, though likeable, are simply too plentiful, and too many of them feel short-changed.

The ending was extensively rewritten and it shows, limping to an underwhelming conclusion from which many of the best characters are inexplicably absent. But for all its faults, there’s something inescapably likeable about ‘Kung-Fu Panda’. Po is a winning hero, engagingly silly and offbeat, particularly in his workout scenes with the frustrated, irascible Shifu. Villain Tai-Lung, voiced with fearsome dignity by Ian McShane , is one of the best cartoon baddies since Shere Khan, and his prison-escape set piece is the standout here, explosive and enthralling.

This is where the movie comes into its own. The action sequences are often astounding, the high-octane animated choreography superbly executed. There’s nothing radical about the visuals themselves – the character and landscape design is entirely by-the-numbers. But we’ve never seen a cartoon move this fast before, the ‘camera’ leaping and swooping along with its gravity-proof protagonists.

As the credits roll, the film’s many flaws come sharply into focus. But while it lasts, ‘Kung-Fu Panda’ is something of a guilty treat.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 1976, July 3 - 9 2008

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User reviews of this film

crazy chick said...

Posted on Aug 30 2008 00:45 Me and my mam thought this film was absolutely hilarious and it is a must to see.

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kerrie said...

Posted on Aug 23 2008 23:01 its very funny i could see it again

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H said...

Posted on Aug 19 2008 11:42 Fantastic my daughter and I loved every minute. Simple story line, action packed, amusing throughout and a few scary bits! What more could you want on a wet British afternoon?

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pac-man said...

Posted on Aug 16 2008 01:04 Bit of a let down. No decent belly laughs. We all thought it was OK, but not a comedy.

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Andy said...

Posted on Aug 15 2008 15:19 Dont go and see this film if your looking for a decent storyline, it will dissapoint you. I went into the screen this film was on hoping to relax whilst watching a Jack Black comedy with my friend. With his incredible wit, and his average humour, Black made the majority of my screen constantly laugh out loud. But as I said a poor story line makes the film seem a bit rushed. However if your looking to watch a trademark Jack Black comedy, this is the film for you.

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lynda said...

Posted on Aug 14 2008 20:20 I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY BORING AND A STUPID STORY, MY SON AND MY NEPHEW ENJOYED IT THOUGH

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starmainto said...

Posted on Aug 12 2008 14:18 better than wall e and all the other animated films out this summer - most enjoyable animated feature since the first shrek -A must see

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Cara said...

Posted on Aug 09 2008 23:54 Not just for kids! Brilliantly animated...very funny well worth watching

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Tyanna said...

Posted on Aug 03 2008 14:24 i'm gona c it wid mi fwends i hope itz worth da money lol! sum people say itz funny but othas say its BORIN lol! i'm just sayin it beta be funny lyk people say it iz!lol

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sheam said...

Posted on Aug 03 2008 08:27 The most exciting flim

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rub said...

Posted on Aug 02 2008 23:37 Very nice film. I enjoyed it with my three year old. We were laughing most of the time. I can watch it again, its that good. I will recommend this to anybody irrespective of the age.

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gemma said...

Posted on Jul 30 2008 21:48 This film was just incredible. At first i was scared it would be too childish but it was soooo funny, everyone in the cinema was cracking up. I think the older guys enjoyed it more than the younger guys!!
YOU MUST SEE THIS FILM!!

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Megan said...

Posted on Jul 30 2008 12:35 I watched Kung Fu Panda with my little sister, it is really funny but it's not my favourite film. I still enjoy it i watched it about 2 times lol :) x x x x

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Amrita said...

Posted on Jul 29 2008 19:21 I would watch it again. It was really funny.

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hi said...

Posted on Jul 26 2008 16:17 kung fu pand was rubbish and a waste of money only 5 year olds would fink its good the film is made for littile kids not older peple and it hs rubbish IT IS A DISGRACE WHY MAKE A FILMSO BORING BOUT AS PANDA WHO BECAME A WARRIOR GROW UP! THE DIRECTORS SHOULD GET SACKED FOR MAKING A RUBBISH FILM

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