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 How
clever of the creators of Kung Fu Panda 2 to wrap their inevitable
sequel to the 2008 box office hit in an origin story. I love origin
stories. Who isn’t interested in how that character you love became
that character you love?
In the
days since the overweight panda Po was revealed to be the legendary
Dragon Warrior, joining his martial arts heroes, The Furious Five (-
minus Grandmaster Flash) to protect China against evil, life has
been pretty sedate. Training is still a daily task that Po stumbles and
bumbles through; the quieter Zen concepts taught by the ever-exasperated
Master Shifu meant to promote the inner peace necessary to truly be a
master go way over the simple panda’s head. In another part of the
country, a new threat rises as a young noble decides to take a larger
stake in the leadership of China. The peacock, kung fu master Lord Shen
wants to put the kibosh on any practice of the art, using his own skills
backed up with the might of a deadly cannon to make him the most
powerful threat in the world. Po discovers a tragic connection to Lord
Shen that weakens him and throws him off-track, imperiling his entire
team. Can Po get to the bottom of his tie to Lord Shen in time to stop
this enemy from conquering China
As is
the way of most sequels, Kung Fu Panda 2 is a slighter shadow of its
hearty sire, dependent on the goodwill felt toward the original film to
pave its way. The script for Kung Fu Panda 2 is not as sharp, clever or
funny as the first film, nor is the action as bombastic. There is a
very touching element in Kung Fu Panda and it’s the theme of family; the
one a person is born with and families of one’s making. The standout
for me in Kung Fu Panda 2 was the relationship of Po and the only father
he’s ever known, noodle shop owner, Mr. Ping. Years ago, the
kind-hearted goose took in a voraciously hungry baby panda hidden in a
turnip box and raised him as his own. Surrounded with such love and
care, Po had never suspected that a large panda having a small goose as
a parent wasn’t exactly normal, until Lord Shen’s insignia triggers a
long-suppressed memory. Po’s past is equally moving and the sacrifices
made by his birth parents made me a little misty. The animation is
still pretty and lushly rendered in this sequel, but my biggest
complaint was one that I had for the first film and that was the
terribly sped up fighting scenes. The filmmakers have clearly spent
time carefully designing the motions for each of the characters and I
don’t understand why it’s filmed so fast, wasting all that effort? Are
they afraid it will be too scary for kids? Lord Shen, the white
peacock, whirls about like a dervish, alternating his wide, beautiful
tail as both shield and weapon with moves that make Jet Li look like a
wallflower. It’s very frustrating to watch when it has every potential
to be gorgeous.
There’s quite a bit about this chapter that seems
rushed besides the action sequences; Po’s relationship with Shifu and
the Furious Five doesn’t seem to have developed much since the first
film, nor have Po’s skills as the Dragon Warrior. Most of Po’s funny
moments still hinge upon his weight and inability to keep up with the
team. Even my inner eight-year-old found this tiresome before long. I
actually wished for more scenes involving the Furious Five or found
myself waiting until sweet Mr. Ping’s return. Claiming some genuine
martial arts movie cred, this chapter features some voiceovers from not
only Jackie Chan returning as Furious Five member Monkey, but Jean
Claude van Damme as the Chinese alligator, Master Croc, who, like his
alter-ego, who can drop into a vicious split at the drop of a yuan.
Michelle Yeoh also appears as a wise goat with ESP, whose prophecy about
the young Lord Shen sets him on his mad course of destruction. Gary
Oldman nails the preening, vain Shen wonderfully and I wish there had
been more of him.
Great
voice cast aside, Kung Fu Panda 2 pales beside its snappier sire, but
it’s entertaining enough and the younger ones in the audience will still
eat it up with chopsticks.
~ The
Lady Miz Diva
May 26th,
2011
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