Film Review – Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)

It has been almost a decade since audiences last saw Kung Fu Panda franchise: with the release of Kung Fu Panda 4 in the last weekend of March, our favourite panda comes back to the big screen. As someone who was not even 10 years old when the first film of the franchise came out, reviewing the latest instalment of the series definitely feels like a full-circle moment. Needless to say, I was very excited to come back to travel back to the Valley of Peace with the new movie, just as much as many other fans in the audience who also grew up with these films.

Kung Fu Panda 4 opens in a familiar setting: the restaurant that Po’s father Mr. Ping (James Hong) owns. This time, however, not only is he running the restaurant with Po’s biological father Li Shan (Bryan Cranston), but it is also a brand-new restaurant. This is not the only change in the Valley of Peace as Po has to find a candidate to replace him as the Dragon Warrior in order to become the new spiritual leader. When a new thread surfaces, Po has to forces with Zhen (Awkwafina) in order to stop the Chameleon (Viola Davis), an evil sorceress who wants to steal the kung-fu abilities of all the previous masters in China.

The animation is one of the most impressive aspects of the whole film, as it often happens with the previous films as well. This is particularly relevant as we are catapulted into a whole new adventure with the latest film with new sometimes unexpected villains and the entire new setting of Juniper City. Similarly, the combat scenes are very well choreographed as with previous films. Even though the audience sees a lot of fighting sequences in the movie, they are never repetitive and always manage to keep the stakes high and immediately grab our attention. As proven before in this franchise, the execution of the martial arts sequences remains one of its biggest strengths in the newest film.

The fourth instalment of the franchise does not compare with its predecessors. Most notably, there is something clearly missing, or rather someone: the Furious Five are nowhere to be seen if not for a small cameo in the credits sequel which feels a lot more like fan service than actually relevant to the plot whatsoever. While a lot of the plot – and ittedly humour – of the previous films also relied heavily on the titular panda, it has always felt like the Furious Five were just as integral to the franchise and its success and the main character. Their absence definitely made me wonder whether or not it makes sense to continue this franchise without the Furious Five reprising their roles in it.

It is also a fairly predictable film, which I did not necessarily mind. The story arcs for the characters are fascinating. On one hand, there is a whole new adventure for Po who has to go through yet another journey of self-discovery that fits it nicely with everything we have seen before in this franchise. On the other, the other characters, especially the newly introduced ones in this film, also have to embark on their own adventure which will allow them to find out who they are and what they are capable of through the art of kung fu. While some jokes fell flat – the humour is definitely not as strong in this one as with its predecessors – I still enjoyed the movie.

It is no secret that the fourth film is as good as those that preceded it: it does not quite match the irony and novelty of the first film nor the witty humour and snappy pace of the other two sequels that followed it. Nonetheless, Kong Fu Panda 4 is a film that fans of the series will undoubtedly enjoy and a nice addition to a story we know, love, and are more than happy to revisit. To its credit, it may also be an entry-point to the saga for younger fans who are only now discovering Po’s adventures and may now watch the original three movies as well.

★★★

In UK cinemas March 28th/ Jack Black, Awkwafina, Bryan Cranston, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong/ Dir: Mike Mitchell/ Universal Pictures/ PG