★★
There has always been something pleasantly simple about Kung Fu Panda franchise. It’s a three-word premise. A panda…does Kung-Fu. Eight years after the last film – and fifteen years since the first – nothing has changed. It’s still a panda, it’s still doing Kung Fu. GOOD. It’s funny too. The premise, of course. There is, however, a problem. Eight years ago, Kung Fu Panda 3 closed out a much-loved trilogy a little too well for its own good. Four movies in and the mileage limits of a three-word premise are starting to show. It’s never a good sign when a franchise uses past foes to emulate past victories.
So that’s it Kung Fu Panda 4 opens with the return of Ian McShane’s supernaturally powerful snow leopard, Tai Lung, once again threatening localized domination. Only, things are not quite what they seem. You see, the new big bad is a shapeshifting chameleon witch known only as “The Chameleon” (Viola Davis). The reappearance of Tai Lung is therefore only a trap to attract the Dragon Master himself, Po (Jack Black). Naturally, the trap works, not least because of Po’s wish to distract himself from his own destiny.
Back in the Valley of Peace, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) asks Po to choose his successor as Dragon Master. It’s time for Po to ascend to the rank of spiritual leader, the highest rank in all of Kung Fu. He doesn’t want the job – Dragon Master is a much cooler nickname – but 94 minutes won’t be enough. The leading candidate for Po’s successor is newcomer Zhen, an evil fox, voiced by the increasingly omnipresent Awkwafina. You may remember, a long time ago, that Angelina Jolie’s Tigress wanted this job. I really, really wanted it. Awkwafina is much cheaper than Jolie, however. Thus, the Furious Five benefit here from a simple silent appearance. No Jackie Chan, no Lucy Liu, no Seth Rogan. Pity.
All told, it’s a surprisingly boring plot that sees Po and Zhen travel across the country to Juniper City and the Chameleon Layer. That’s not to say it’s not well organized. Impressively choreographed set pieces go a long way toward picking up the pace when things drag. There’s plenty of slapstick – including fun with bulls… in a china shop – while a fight in a tavern proves particularly entertaining. As for the decorations, Kung Fu Panda 4 cannot follow the path of Puss in Boots switching to DreamWorks’ newer – and dazzling – house style, but it’s a richly textured affair.
Black and Awkwafina prove at least a good match, elevating a leaden storyline with as many failed gags as successful ones. Neither is challenged to deviate from their usual pattern but, oh, they do it so well. Davis too is strong but exhausted. His chameleon is promising but is not a patch on the franchise’s infamous predecessors. With half the trios, McShane benefits from double the threat here. This is not due to deeper work but more organic characterization. The chameleon exists as a pawn in an artificial narrative arc, lacking originality or verve. The key message here is the exaltation of change as a necessity in life. Maybe you understand irony. It’s the same old, same old.
T.S.