Kung Fu Panda (2008) There Is No Such Thing As An Accident

Kung Fu Panda (2008) Dreamworks 

There is usually a lot to catch up on when reviewing a movie that has now turned into a franchise. Dreamworks can be proud of this film because it is different than its predecessors in that the characters are relatable and not that childish. Usually these movies are a little too kid-friendly in that they lose a majority of their audience because the themes are too boring and the humor is dumb. There are very few cartoons that really are able to relate with a wider audience like Kung Fu Panda does. An example of this would be the Avatar the Last Airbender series.

Po is a relatable character in that he is not well liked and he has problems fitting into an elite crowd. No one is really happy about him becoming the Dragon warrior and the furious 5 are disappointed that the chosen fighter was not one of them. They mask their disappointment in making jokes about how Po is overweight and never going to accomplish anything. As a person it is easy to relate to feeling like Po because many times you feel like others may be saying the same things. Po teaches us the valuable lesson of never giving up and being resolute about trying your best. He was hungry to learn and just plain hungry most of the film. It is inspiring for most of us to see a character like Po especially in a kid’s movie because usually the characters are likable but only due to their ignorance. Most characters spend the entire film realizing who they are while Po is widely aware that he is fat and disliked which drives him to become even better.

What a great message for kids. Even if they don’t fit in, they can be self-aware of themselves to the point that they can overcome their problems or make their problem apart of the solution. Po chooses the latter and finds out that his ‘fatness’ can be used to his advantage and that it is the one thing that combats strength. He has no chi points that can block his nervous system because of the fat he has and it tires his opponents because he can take a lot of hits where most fighters cant.

Kung Fu Panda was a great way to show companies that they can make a solid film that isn’t just for kids. The kids like the movie and can understand much of the story and the adults can actually enjoy the themes of the film. I think it provided a great balance in-between the two and it was a lot of fun to watch. I will most likely watch the second one at some point in the near future too.