saga Kung Fu Panda, characterized by a transition from smaller to larger. In the first part, released in 2008, no one could have foreseen that the adventures of the giant panda featuring the voice of actor Jack Black, it was a box office and critical success.. But not only did he do this, he opened up the possibility of exploring this tribute to the wuxia genre in a setting that was largely driven by the charisma of his characters. Especially its hero, who is looking for a purpose and a place in the world. A clumsy panda with a huge heart captivated the audience. The rest of the franchise’s stories follow his life and the lives of the other characters around him with a friendly, good humor. So a set of films, It has become an expanding universe.
For this reason it is surprising that Kung Fu Panda 4 moves away from all of this in favor of incorporating an entirely new panorama. Mike Mitchell’s film changes direction and moves away from the feeling of a growing team. What does elimination include? Furious Five. Therefore, he is looking for a new environment. Namely: the maturity of Poe (Jack Black, reprising his role without much energy) and his search for a successor. But what an overview of the world created and how its characters can mature is soon forgotten. And this is for the sake of adventure, which is very hasty and artificial.
Perhaps because of all of the above, the film is disappointing in more ways than one. We tell you three reasons why the fourth part of the franchise does not live up to the previous films. From forgetting the main character and his importance to abandoning the most beloved figures. The truth is that Kung Fu Panda 4 is a collection of minor missteps that lacks the grace and enormous heart of the films that made the saga a pop culture favorite.
A story that goes nowhere
The screenplay by Jonathan Abel, Glenn Berger and Darren Lemke abandons the tone of complicity and humor that made the saga famous and poses a dilemma. Poe’s path will give way to a new generation. Or rather, a replacement that must be sought with the same diligent determination as Spiritual Teacher of the Valley of Peace, in my time. In fact, the first minutes of the production make it clear that this process will force him to rethink his life as he knows it. All because he will cease to be Dragon Warrioryou will have to work at inheriting what you have learned. Something that would allow us to explore a little bit of what Poe has done over all this long time. or where you’re heading with new responsibilities on board.
But Kung Fu Panda 4 He falls apart when he has to connect the dots. First of all, let’s refresh the public’s memory, because eight years have passed since the release of the third film, and sixteen since the first. The plot then becomes general, telling everything Poe has gone through to get to where he is now. At the same time, it makes it clear that this is an emotional farewell for a character who will pass the baton to a new generation. However, this transition, which could have been done subtly and be more emotional than the set of points to be addressed, makes the first part of the film more boring than necessary.
The hero who hangs up his gloves
Essentially, this is because Poe acts more as a master of ceremonies in the film, responsible for introducing the characters, than as a protagonist. Soon a simple conflict is resolved by a forced march. Po must find his heir, and once he finds him, train him to give him the same opportunities he had. All of the above comes from Zhen, a corsac fox voiced by singer Awkwafina. The plot then moves towards the idea of predestination or how the Dragon Warrior’s torch is a legacy of care. At least not as harmless as Poe thought.
However, this argument does not advance much in what should be its central point. More interested in showing that Poe is willing to back down in favor of his student, The plot wastes its time making it clear that there is no other option. But what might have seemed exciting, friendly or, at best, touching, feels more like a reworking of circumstances in favor of a new dimension to the saga. Rushed and sharing too much in common – both visually and narratively – with its weak third installment, it progresses in disarray.
The most unfortunate thing is that Kung Fu Panda 4 It is much more than what it ends up being. Something obvious when he takes the stage Chameleon (Viola Davis), the villain in question and the center of the film’s most important scenes. The power of the dark figure manifests itself in a similar way to the visual experiment DreamWorks for Wolf Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. However, instead of creating an atmosphere that makes the enemy a formidable point, it is diluted by the use of tiresome and insipid humor. The figure with Davis’ voice remains incomplete, as if his role and participation were more of a box office requirement than anything else.
New delivery with nothing to offer
In the end, Kung Fu Panda 4 replay your best moments. Fights, loud arguments and a spiritual moment that comes out of nowhere. This makes the entire film seem like just an excuse to maintain interest in the saga. Especially because of a certain anachronism compared to other, more risky experiments of the studio. The animation does not involve much risk and at the moment is too reminiscent of the criticized third part.
Moreover, it is regrettable that most Furious Five they didn’t return. The explanation for his absence is vague and almost comical. As such, the sense of emptiness they leave in a script that, no matter what, should be centered on Po and Zhen, is one of the film’s most awkward twists. There are no subplots, and the few that are there contain a lot of filler that goes nowhere. Only the returns of Li Shan (Bryan Cranston) and Tai Lung (Ian McShane) are assessed at their weakest points. And they don’t always succeed.
Kung Fu Panda 4 it’s more of a contrived sequel whose sole purpose is to expand the franchise rather than being a necessary moment in Poe’s story. As for its closure, which of course already announces new adventures, the film makes it clear that it was more of a transition than anything else.. An idea without much depth that the script fails to develop.
Source: Hiper Textual
