Kung Fu Panda is one of those series right up there alongside Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon as pillars of Dreamworks animation. A series unafraid to be goofy and cartoonish while also finding room to be dark emotional, landing an impressive balance that has made this series fun to experience as both a kid and an adult. It’s been a commercial and critical success, bringing the wuxia genre of Chinese fiction to a young, western audience. You start with this, and before you know it your kid is watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. With 3 films and several spin-off shows under its karate belt, we have reached the fourth installment. So what you may be wondering is not only will my kid like it, but will I like it as well?

To be brief, yeah, I think there’s enjoyment to be had by all here. It’s still well animated and houses some fun action sequences that definitely lean into that kung fu film aesthetic, while still remaining playful and silly enough to most likely garner the attention of kids. Though, if I had to compare this with the rest of the films, I honestly think this is perhaps the weakest one. The emotional narrative found in the previous films isn’t very strong here, which essentially leads to an uneventful character journey for Po, a semi-unneeded introduction of new character Zhen, as well as a unique yet underwhelming villain in The Chameleon. It just ends up feeling pretty middle of the road, not exactly terrible but not spectacular by any means. Based on some production notes that have surfaced recently this could have been a VERY different film and could explain why this one feels as underwhelming as it does.

In Kung Fu Panda 4, Dragon Master Po is informed that it is time to pass on his title to an apprentice so that he may ascend to the title of Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. Po shows hesitance with leaving the world of butt-kicking behind, especially as a new, shape shifting villain named the Chameleon arises with plans for world domination. Reluctantly teaming up with a fox thief named Zhen, Po sets out to stop this new foe and maybe learn something about wisdom or whatever along the way.

There’s not much to say on the returning voice cast, as guys like Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman and James Hong are all nailing it as usual. I’d mostly like to talk about the newer characters, and actually, some noticeably absent returning characters. Zhen is voiced by Akwafina, which you’re probably already rolling your eyes at. I for one do think she’s overrated, but maybe The Farewell is just doing an immeasurable amount of heavy lifting for me. I will agree that I think she’s become too overexposed in Hollywood, really just feeling like everyone’s go-to snarky female voice actor. Her voice is definitely unique, but it’s everywhere and I think it needs to be reeled back a bit. The character of Zhen honestly isn’t super interesting, not really drawing too many parallels or stark differences to Po, aside from her being a criminal and him essentially being a cop. She just doesn’t add a ton to the story, bringing nothing all that new out of Po, but she’s not annoying or egregiously designed, so she’s fine. 

Viola Davis gives a pretty great performance as the villain The Chameleon. She’s a chameleon, as you may have guessed. I assume they got tired of coming up with new villain names? Her ability to shapeshift into Po’s past foes is a super interesting idea, one that does lead to some sparse but entertaining fight scenes. Her backstory and motivation isn’t all that compelling though, especially compared to the likes of Tai Lung and Lord Shen. She’s just mad because she was told she was too small to practice kung fu and now she’s going to steal the power from kung fu masters. Which is funny because there’s literally a praying mantis on the Furious Five. This maybe could have worked, but it doesn’t tie into how she’s eventually dealt with, which could have brought it all full circle and showed the error of her ways, making for a more meaningful climax. As far as returning characters, we do get a little side plot following the hijinks of Po’s 2 fathers, Ping and Li Shan which is fairly enjoyable, but if you’re looking for more from series mainstays Shifu and the Furious Five, don’t hold your breath. Shifu is on the sidelines for most of the story, while the Furious Five are absent through the whole thing, no doubt to avoid how much it must cost to get Angelina Jolie and Seth Rogan. These important characters in Po’s journey make no real impact on this film, which may be a shame to fans of the series.

Where the film manages to bolster itself is through its animation and fight scenes. The action is still well choreographed and staged, making use of different environments and setups to get creative. Whether it be a battle amongst several ancient artifacts, a chase through a busy city street, or an ever-changing gauntlet of the ghosts of Po’s past, the film does manage to uphold that trademark butt kicking that the series was founded on. The story itself moves pretty fast, jumping into the conflict almost immediately, while the constant influx of action helps to keep things interesting. There aren’t too many slower character moments, which does hinder the overall impact of the film, but it also means there’s not a lot of BS to wade through to get to the good stuff.

Truthfully I wish there was more to say about this film. While it has the same energy and fluidity of the past three films, there’s a significant lack of heart when it comes to the characters we know and love as well as the newer additions. It’s not outright terrible, but certainly feels like the weakest in the series so far. Kids are probably going to love it though thanks to its action and farts. And us adults? Well we get treated to something truly special by the end. A cover of Brittney Spears’ …Baby One More Time by Jack Black’s band, Tenacious D. It’s one of those things you didn’t realize you wanted until you have it, and once you have it you wonder how you possibly could have ever lived without it.

Rating

Dragon Warrior

Dragon Warrior is a title bestowed to those who have mastered the highest level of kung-fu, which Po somehow has bumbled his way into achieving. But it’s also the name of this Asian-influenced cocktail. Made in the style of a whiskey sour, this cocktail uses Japanese whiskey, yuzu and black sesame seed syrup to craft something very unique. It’s slightly tart with a rich nuttiness and oakiness to it, while having a creamy texture thanks in part to the addition of an egg white. Finally it’s topped with a bit of tajin to give it some color as well as a slight hint of dragon fire. May it bring peace to your inner turmoil, or at least just pair well with some dumplings.

Ingredients

• 2oz japanese whiskey
• 1oz yuzu sake
• 1/2oz black sesame seed syrup
• 1 egg white
• Dusting: tajin

Instructions

1. Add ingredients to a shaker and shake with no ice for 15-20 seconds.
2. Add ice and shake to chill.
3. Strain into chilled coup glass.
4. Dust top with Tajin.