The return of one of the best non-Disney/Pixar animated franchises is certainly welcomed. I personally have enjoyed every film up to this point. But as the films progress there's always the possibility they will eventually begin to lack in quality as we've seen in previous animated franchises (I'm looking at you Ice Age). While I do feel this way with this new film it's still a good film worth watching. After an 8 year stint, the franchise may have lost some of its steam but still has enough to keep me interested. This film isn't anywhere near as emotional, and heartfelt as the other films, with those depths definitely playing a major factor in what made the others so special. I do not consider this a spoiler since the filmmakers themselves have confirmed that the Furious Five (Tigress, Viper, Mantis, Monkey, and Crane) are not in this pretty much at all. And there absence is very much felt throughout especially when it gets to the final battle. However I do also appreciate the maturity, and overall bravery of the franchise to be able to move on from these beloved characters, it's just would have been better if what they replaced them with had the same amount of potential as they did. What we ended up getting with Awkwafina as Zhen the Fox is not that. She is an appealing character but is she a promising alternative to the Furious Five? No, By a mile she is not. So I can't fall in love with this new character if all I'm thinking about is 'where are the Furious Five?" I can't help that I've just grown to love those characters, and now I'm having to accept something far less impactful. Viola Davis as the Chameleon works well voice wise but just felt like a lesser version of Lord Shen. Her shape-shifting ability is interesting but despite that she is defeated way too easily. She's certainly not the most memorable villain in the Kung Fu Panda franchise. I'd even say she's the weakest of the four. On the positive side, Jack Black always makes me smile, and at this point owns the role of Po. It is a perfect marriage of character and actor. He is clearly having a great time in this film which makes me all the more happy to be in the company of Po. Dustin Hoffman making his return as Master Shifu is always a warm welcome, and has not lost any of his touch playing the character. I love that even though we are in the fourth film Shifu still struggles with patience and inner peace which makes him a three dimensional character to me. Ian McShane returning as Tai Lung was a major reason I went to see this, and even though he didn't have much screen time, he still leaves a big impact on the story. McShane plays him with such grace, and ferocity its quite remarkable to hear. The backgrounds of this film are amazingly done, water looks realer than ever, and the color pallet is widely varied. From the bright pinks and green of the peach tree to the dark grays and blacks of the night. Beautifully done, and a joy to look at. The music by Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro is very nostalgic to me as they reuse some of the previous themes from the past films. Zimmer collaborating with Jack Black to recreate a Britney Spears song is absolute genius. So in the end this film was definitely not a waste of my time, but I would be lying if I didn't say I did end up leaving the theater unfulfilled. I look forward to what this franchise does next. Skadoosh!
Review of Kung Fu Panda 4
