Kung Fu Panda

With a name like Kung Fu Panda, you really can't go wrong. I mean, it's got kung fu, and it's got pandas...what more do you really need? Well I guess it *could* have gone terribly wrong, like last year's Pilates Pete and Bowflex Billy, but thank god it didn't.

Dreamworks Animation finally nails one after a long string of near and far misses, as Kung Fu Panda rivals Shrek and Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit as their best output to date. Kung Fu Panda is hilarious, heart-warming, and a great action film to boot, with kung fu choreography rivaling that of the best of the Hong Kong martial arts films.

Jack Black steals the show as Po, the not-so-svelte-nor-skillfully-adept Dragon Master who's coming was foretold as the savior of the valley and the preserver of peace. He delivers his lines with both aplomb and humility (the latter which is lacking in some of his movies to their detriment), and the results are laugh-out-loud comedic genius. The character is so imbued with the spirit of Jack that the film would have suffered in anyone else's hands.

Dustin Hoffman also shines as Shifu, the annoyed yet ever-wise kung fu master. He brings an honesty and dead-pan humor to his role that is spot on in its tenor. Ian McShane, as the troubled and vengeful Tai Lung, adds both weight and substance to his animated character that fills the picture with its undeniable heart. In fact, all of the actors give outstanding performances, and there was not one time where I thought "Oh, that's xxx speaking now." The only exception (other than Jack Black) was the voice of James Hong, who was perfectly cast as Po's loving and overly-noodle-centric father--his voice is unmistakable, but the casting was perfect!

Co-directors Mark Osborne and John Stevenson's resumes are thin at best, but they adeptly mix the elements of humor, heart, and action. Co-writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger are equally new to the screenwriting scene, but they delivered a script that is definitely top-notch and key to the entire movie's success. Perhaps their long-standing collaboration on the likes of "King of the Hill," "Mad TV," and (may he RIP) "The George Carlin Show" aided them in producing the outstanding screenplay.

Kung Fu Panda is an outstanding film on all accounts. The animation is simply amazing, yet like all good special effects, never detracts from the film. The acting, screenplay, directing, and humor are some of the best I've seen to date. The only reason I'm not giving it 7 skinks is that the story is a little hackneyed and nothing new. Still, this is but a extremely minor complaint as Kung Fu Panda by far one of the best films of 2008.

I don't understand why so often it is the animated films that are the best comedies that are put out of Hollywood. Perhaps it is the fact that they rely upon the input and collaboration of so many people, instead of the charisma of a few recognizable stars, that they really shine in their quality, humor, and attention to detail that puts them far above most other offerings.


Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Starring: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane
Directed by: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson

(6 out of 7 skinks)