‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Review: A Fun Flick, but a Far Cry From the ‘Kung Fu Panda’ Days of Old

With exciting battle scenes, Jack Black’s signature over-the-top charm, and a goose dad as adorable as ever, the new “Kung Fu Panda” film was set to be another one for the ages. On its fourth iteration, though, the beloved series finally falls short.

The “Kung Fu Panda” series has been shown much love over its lifetime, with Hollywood Insider even calling it “The Perfect Trilogy.” The three movies represent a brilliant narrative arc with Po, the kung fu-fighting panda protagonist, struggling through questions of self-worth and belonging before finally finding peace in his identity at the end of the third movie. That begs the question: What is this new installment for?

On one hand, it unfortunately exhibits many familiar tropes. “Kung Fu Panda 4” brings back old villains somewhat extraneously, involves a plot separate from the narrative arc of the trilogy, and misses out on the nuanced and meaningful writing that made the originals so good.

On the other hand, however, “Kung Fu Panda 4” is still an enjoyable film. Firstly, it’s absolutely beautiful. The DreamWorks animators nailed the visuals, with stunning depictions of Chinese geography, an incredibly well-crafted Juniper City, and nature scenes that feel right out of a Studio Ghibli production. Chameleon, the shapeshifting villain, serves as proof of DreamWorks’ wonderful visual character design, with intricate, jade-colored scales and regal robes that highlight her despotic nature.

The soundtrack is another highlight, with Hans Zimmer continuing his epic musical legacy. Its best moments are a rendition of “Crazy Train” on traditional Chinese instruments, and a Tenacious D cover of Britney Spears’ “...Baby One More Time,” with Jack Black absolutely smashing the upbeat vocals.

The biggest problem with the film is its failure to live up to writing expectations. The “Kung Fu Panda” trilogy, especially the first and second films, are masterpieces of animated storytelling. They grapple with deep existential questions, including those regarding belonging to an adopted family. In this new installment, the deepest introspection available is that of Zhen’s redemption arc, which feels unearned and rushed, and as such unsatisfying.

Despite the narrative issues, the character is still played well. Awkwafina shines in her role as the thief, with her lighthearted charm deftly setting up the character’s betrayal in the third act of the movie. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Chameleon, with Viola Davis not quite capturing the full extent of the deep, one-sided evil that the villain has to offer.

Moreover, the film suffers from a childish sort of distraction that often overtakes the film’s plot. Alongside Po’s adventure, his dads embark on their own mission to…make sure he’s safe? This strange aside feels out of place and has no basis in — and serves no purpose to — the plot. While the interactions between the dads are harmless in their fun, they’re harmful in their detriment to the film’s pace.

There was, however, one very important thing that the movie got right: the kung fu. The animated choreography was deft, fluid, and showcased a refreshing creativity in animated fight scenes, successfully toeing the line between extraordinary and over-the-top.

“Kung Fu Panda 4” was always going to have a hard time living up to its predecessors, but in the end that’s the film’s own fault. DreamWorks could have very easily left the “Kung Fu Panda” trilogy as one of the animated greats, but they chose to take the risk to add another to the anthology, and ultimately the risk did not pay off. Although it’s fairly enjoyable and harmlessly lighthearted, “Kung Fu Panda 4” is shallower, less funny, and disappointing when compared to its predecessors.

—Staff writer Alessandro M. M. Drake can be reached at alessandro.drake@thecrimson.com.