We had to wait many years for Po, the protagonist of the
Kung Fu Panda
saga , to return to cinema screens.
Only eight years passed between the first and the third, the same time for
Kung Fu Panda 4
to arrive .
It won't have been for lack of ideas, nor because they didn't trust that the movie with Jack Black
's voice
couldn't work.
After Po (voice of Jack Black: look on the billboard because there are rooms that show the original version) is chosen to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, his mentor and teacher Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) explains to him that he needs Find and train a new Dragon Warrior.
But Po doesn't like this new title and prefers to continue as Dragon Warrior.
But, and yes, there has to be another one but for the movie to start, he crosses paths with a thieving fox, Zhen (voice of Awkwafina) who tells him that there is an evil sorceress, the Chameleon (Viola Davis).
Chameleon, who is precisely a chameleon, and can magically transform into whoever she wants, she summons all the master villains whom Po has defeated and who were in the spirit realm.
Po and Master Shifu, voiced by Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman.
UIP Photos
So yes, it's like in the absence of a single villain (the sorceress) here are all the previous ones, and Po embarks on a journey to fight her.
With all this, fans will wonder: What about the Furious Five?
It may be for budget reasons, but the characters that
Angelina Jolie
, Seth Rogen and the rest lent their voices to are not there.
For those who accompany children and have not seen the three previous films in the saga, it is not relevant because they can understand the plot just the same.
Chameleon, the new villain.
Director Mike Mitchell (
The Lego Movie 2
,
Shrek 4: Ever After
and
Trolls
) wanted to focus more on Po, which probably explains why he left out the Furious Five.
Yes, there are Po's adoptive father, the goose Ping (James Hong) and his biological father, the panda Li Shan (Bryan Cranston), concerned about Chameleon's cruelty.
And obviously, they will go, in their own way, to her aid.
But yes, at times there will be a certain nostalgia in this new adventure that has Jack Black's characteristic humor.
The film has many gags and action sequences.
DreamWorks animation continues to improve.
The fact that Po, having already mastered his abilities, becomes the spiritual leader allows the story to explore themes of legacy and the passing of the torch.
Is the saga over?
Except for the final plot twist, which is predictable, the film will entertain the little ones.
The plot twist towards the end was somewhat predictable, and it is also true that many of the best gags were in the trailer...
Since there is no post-credit scene, we don't know, but the fact is that the boys can leave the room before heading to the toilets... But they would miss the cover of
Baby One More Time
(1998, by Britney Spears) sung by Tenacious D (Jack Black's band) during the closing credits.
“Kung Fu Panda 4”
Good
Action comedy / Animation.
United States / China, 2024. 94', ATP L.
From
: Mike Mitchell, Stephanie Stine.
Featuring the voices of:
Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman.
Theaters:
Hoyts Abasto, Cinemark Palermo, Cinépolis Recoleta and Pilar, Showcase Belgrano, Haedo and Norcenter.