Photo by billow926 on Unsplash
Kung Fu Panda 4, released this month, had an opening weekend of $58.3 million domestically to reach No. 1 at the box office.
Kung Fu Panda 4 packs punch worthy of a Dragon Warrior
By Damani Edgington and Quinton Smith
Staff writers
When people heard that the Kung Fu Panda franchise was getting another movie, I’m sure some people were thinking, Wait–they still make Kung Fu Panda movies?”
I’m sure when the producers made the first movie in 2008, they would’ve never thought that they’d make Kung Fu Panda 4 16 years later, which surpassed movies as big as Dune: Part Two at the box office.
Even though the movie was very successful at the box office, the necessity of a fourth movie is still up for debate. Some people believe that you shouldn’t fix what’s not broken, especially if it’s not been broken for eight years straight (with Kung Fu Panda 3 coming out in 2016). Despite not being completely necessary, the movie held its own weight and was a well-crafted addition to the series.
We pick up with Po the Dragon Warrior being told he has to move on to become the next Grand Master Oogway, and that he needs to find a Dragon Warrior replacement. Meanwhile, there are rumors of this female creature called The Chameleon who’s trying to take over the world. Po meets this female fox named Zhen, who’s supposed to be able to help find him. They go to find The Chameleon and along the way they form a bond, only for Zhen to betray Po. Now, to stop The Chameleon from stealing the kung fu of past kung fu masters in the spirit world, Po has a choice – trust his remorseful companion, or go it alone?
The movie is a great story not just about being OK with growing up, but also forgiveness and that it’s never too late to do the right thing. One of the best things this movie did was its representation of Chinese culture. Between the food they eat, the settings they stay in, and the characters themselves, it’s clear the creators really tried to remain authentic.
The big three storylines of forgiveness, doing the right thing, and being comfortable with growing up all flow together perfectly. Viewers of the first three movies definitely will appreciate seeing Po, an unserious and rather childish character, struggle and come to peace with the idea of growing up. Having the fresh face of Zhen not only being our betrayer but also the one to show us it’s never too late to do the right thing was a strong choice, too.
The animation remained loyal to the first three movies which I also enjoyed. The final movie wouldn’t have felt like a solid ending if it changed up the feel of the movie with an animation change. The movie feels the same as the first three movies and allows viewers to relive the movies from their childhood.
However, I thought it was out of character and unnecessary for Po to give the role of Dragon Warrior to Zhen. A big part of Po’s brand from the start has been him being the Dragon Warrior, so him passing on the role felt out of place. We have always known Po and his character has been developed as the Dragon Warrior and never as the Grand Master.
Overall, the movie proves itself as an asset as the (potential) final movie to such an iconic franchise. Even with its flaws, it’s a satisfying watch for old and new fans alike.