It seems that nearly every movie these days is a sequel or remake, whether superb like the Toy Story sequels or atrociously unnecessary, such as any of the recent remakes of horror classics (Halloween, The Nightmare on Elm Street, the list goes on). It seems that Hollywood is fresh out of new ideas.
But every once in awhile, a film can have a sequel original in its own right — neither a triumphant rehash nor an abysmal retread. With Kung Fu Panda 2, DreamWorks Animation proves that the seemingly closed plot line of the original Kung Fu Panda could be pushed off in a totally new, equally riveting direction.
Now, of course, this is still a children’s movie, so expect plenty of silliness and a lesson learned, but overall, Kung Fu Panda 2 is both more action-packed and serious than its predecessor.
The sequel follows Po (Jack Black, Gulliver’s Travels) the slovenly panda-turned-dragon-warrior hero, as he continues to protect China from evil. Much unlike the first film, Po is actually a fantastic fighter this time around, so right away it’s clear the story won’t really be about making the unlikely panda into a great warrior.
Instead, the movie focuses on the meaning of family, specifically in cases of adoption. This idea was touched on lightly in the first film, though here it is the main thrust of Po’s struggle as he learns where he came from prior to his adoption by his single father Mr. Ping (James Hong, How to Make Love to a Woman).
As luck would have it, the evil peacock Lord Shen — voiced by the ever-villainous Gary Oldman (Red Riding Hood) — is staging a coup in nearby Gongmen City, and unsurprisingly, he is the same peacock responsible for murdering Po’s parents.
Except for an arbitrary last-second cliffhanger, the entire movie is relatively predictable, which really isn’t a bad thing. No one is going to see Kung Fu Panda 2 in hopes of finding a multilayered storyline, which is fine because the movie nails all the other aspects necessary for great filmmaking.
First of all, the animation is incredible, although the 3D is entirely unnecessary. Beyond that, the action choreography in the movie is as hilarious as it is totally engrossing, as the film swiftly moves from one major set-piece to the next.
Altogether, the film’s pace is almost too fast. The movie lasts just 90 breathless minutes without a wasted moment — or a calm one — and a considerable portion of the runtime is made up in credits.
Kung Fu Panda 2 hasn’t lost its snark either, especially since the now super-powered Po is in a position to be more cynical than in the last installment. Every time the movie starts heading toward a cheesy, completely overblown moment the characters suddenly break the fourth wall and laugh at themselves, helping the audience know the film is entirely aware of its ridiculousness.
Other than the dizzying pace, the only other nagging aspect of this film is its use of voice actors. While both this and the original film have been lauded for their absolutely overstuffed star-filled cast, many of the voices seem forced.
Instead of letting a few actors really shine — besides Black and Oldman — the film tries very hard to give each actor one good joke before muting them. This leads to an utter waste of talents like Seth Rogen (Paul) and comedian David Cross (Megamind), as well as a number of bizarre characters that are onscreen too often to be cameos and talk too little to actually be important characters, including Wolf Boss (Danny McBride, Your Highness), Monkey (Jackie Chan, Shaolin) and Master Croc (Jean-Claude Van Damme, The Eagle Path).
Looking past this, Kung Fu Panda 2 is certainly a worthy successor to the original, even if it does suffer from similar problems. An enjoyable romp, the dragon warrior and the furious five are sure to give Pixar a run for their money at this year’s Academy Awards.
RATING: 3.5 stars out of 5
berman@umdbk.com
