It's rare for an animated sequel to have as much Chao Wa Punch Kick as the 3rd installment in a franchise but thankfully Kung Fu Panda does. Fans of the Dragon Warrior can relax because Kung Fu Panda 3 is amazing and worth to see in theaters, yes, even in IMAX 3D.
The film opens in the spirit world, where the wise tortoise (and I'd love a grandfather like that) Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) is enjoying some peace but then is suddenly attacked by his ancient 'frenemy', the double blade wielding yak, 'the collector', 'Supreme Warlord', 'Master of Pain' and 'Beast of Vengence' -General Kai (J.K. Simmons) who has deafeted ancient masters and have captured their chi, imprisoning them into jade zombies at his beck and call.
After defeating Oogway, Kai travels to the mortal world, determined to find the Dragon Warrior, capture his chi and ensure his evil legacy.
Back in the mortal world, Po (Jack Black) has a lot on his plate (and we're not just talking about dumplings) as Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) has given him the new role of teacher to the 'Furious Five' (as if they need any more teaching). While Po has a long way to go before becoming "Teacher of the Year" interesting developments turn up when a Panda named Li appears in the village and beats Po's dumpling eating record.
The two pandas are peas in a pod, it doesn't take for long for them (or everyone in the village) to realize that Li and Po are father and son; to the irritation of Po's noodle-loving, adoptive father Mr. Ping (James Hong).
The father and son reunion is short lived though as Kai threatens to attack the Valley of Peace. Gaining wisdom from an ancient scroll, the team learns that Kai can only be deafeted by a master of chi; something which even Master Shifu cannot claim to be.
The scroll also tells of a secret village where pandas who are masters of chi live. Li urges Po to come with him to this same village, to teach him to master his chi. The village is a 'Panda Paradise' (you know those Panda Videos in YouTube? It's kind of like that) and as Po is reunited with his black and white brethren, he learns what it means to be a real panda, but will it be enough for him to learn to master chi and stop Kai before it's too late?
Kung Fu Panda 3 is surprisingly emotional with Mr. Ping bringing a lot of the waterworks by putting adoptive parents, center stage. It is hilarious as expected and the animation is a visual treat-worth seeing in IMAX 3D. The film is the first co-production between Dreamworks Animation and the Shanghai based studio, Studio Oriental Dreamworks, which brings a great level of detail and authenticity to the film. From the Chinese style watercolor animation which transitions to 2D then 3D graphics, to the explosion of color and light, you can't help but marvel at what you are seeing on the big screen. You can even see the detail in the fur of the animals, and those are a lot of animals and a village of Pandas sounds challenging but nothing was spared when it came to level of detail and the graphics in the film.
Of course, the film has not lost it's charming and hilarious humor, which combines Chinese themes and American Pop culture references that every fat in kid in all of us would love. Part of the appeal that Po has to this generation is that even a fat (and cute) panda can be the Dragon Warrior and in this age of skinny models and buffed up super heroes, a dumpling loving Po, who tells you to be "the best you, you can be" is a welcome treat and something that kids and even the adults need to hear, every once in a while.
9 out of 10 ⭐️ (Paul says it's his highest rated animated movie and that says a lot because it takes a lot to impress him). You can catch Kung Fu Panda 3 in advance on Feb. 29 and March 1 in select cinemas-before it's March 9 release date.
“Kung Fu Panda 3” opens March 9 in cinemas (2D, 3D and IMAX 3D) nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros
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