Rating: 4.7 of 5

A Humble noodle maker becomes the unlikely protector of his entire village, much to the disgust of the Furious Five who have been training for the title of Dragon Warrior. Under the tutelage of a reluctant master Shifu, he must prepare for a villain named Tai Lung, whose very name strikes fear into the hearts of many. Along the way Po learns the importance of destiny and being true to oneself. However, Shifu and the Furious Five must join him on this journey of discovery if Tai Lung is to be defeated once and for all.

Kung Fu Panda DVD Review

The whimsical tone of this movie is set from the opening scene. Po, the title character is dreaming about being one of the Furious Five, a group of warriors charged with protecting the inhabitants of a peaceful valley. Once the furious five is introduced to Po, it is immediately apparent how unlikely this prospect is.

He is a fat, noodle making panda, with no training in Kung Fu, but nonetheless he has a good heart. While his secret wish is to become a master, his father, a goose voiced by James Hong, hopes that Po will one day take over his restaurant. While attempting to view the Dragon warrior ceremony, Po ends up in the middle of the proceedings and is chosen as the Dragon Warrior.

This offering from Dreamworks Animation, is not only a heartwarming story of triumph and acceptance, but also a feat of topnotch animation. Its message, while not new, does present a fresh perspective. Almost anyone can relate to the character of Po, who seeks only to be better, a philosophy shared by martial artists and average people the world over.

As expected with any animated movie, there is an underlying message that is hard to miss. Interestingly, the writers achieve this without being preachy, and the movie never loses its humorous tone.

Fans of the genre will no doubt question some of the voice casting choices, such as Dustin Hoffman as master Shifu, especially given the Oriental aspects of the film. That aside, it is beautifully rendered, and while it does often tread on familiar territory, it is thoroughly engaging.

Very young children may not get the messages woven into the storyline but they will appreciate the movie. It contains no objectionable content, and can truly be considered family entertainment. Even adults who may not normally go in for animated fare may be pleasantly surprised.

Thank you to Jessica M. for this “Kung Fu Panda DVD” article/review.

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