Kung Fu Panda 4
2024 · Directed by Mike Mitchell
Original language: English
- animation
- comedy
- adventure
- action
- family
The story
Po is gearing up to become the spiritual leader of his Valley of Peace, but also needs someone to take his place as Dragon Warrior. As such, he will train a new kung fu practitioner for the spot and will encounter a villain called the Chameleon who conjures villains from the past.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated animation with the painterly sheen of DreamWorks' mid-2020s style: sunlit jade valleys, lantern-lit village markets, and crisp, fast-cut action framed in wide, kinetic compositions where the camera swoops and spins with the fighters. The palette leans warm, with rust-red temple pillars, golden autumn light, and the occasional murky, shadowed hideout for the villain's sly, shape-shifting menace. Sound is big and bouncy: percussive drums and bamboo clatter under the fight choreography, a jaunty orchestral score, and Jack Black's chatty, high-energy voice bouncing off Awkwafina's quick-witted sparring partner. The vibe is buoyant and silly with a light adventurous edge, the kind of thing that suits a family movie night, a lazy weekend afternoon, or a long-haul flight that needs something easy to follow. Pacing is brisk and gag-heavy, with frequent slapstick and a steady stream of quips between set pieces. Po's arc is a warm one about a comfortable hero reluctantly stepping back and learning to pass on what he knows. Action is cartoonish and bloodless, with flying kicks and comic tumbles, and villainy stays playful rather than frightening. It is for viewers who want a colourful, good-humoured martial arts romp with gentle stakes and no real gore.
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