Producing animation sequels is precarious. Every factor in these additions tend to fall short: the visual effects, the plot, the reception, etc. Dreamworks Animation-produced CG franchises are especially dubious because of the company’s mediocrity (How many Shrek sequels have they produced?). Fortunately, Kung Fu Panda (from Mark Osborne and John Stevenson) is one of their dazzling gems. Its sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2 (directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson), though not as good as the original, is a totally indulgent film, in the best way possible.
Po, the Dragon Warrior (Jack Black), again struggles with his identity in this film. Teaming up with the Furious Five (returning cast including Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, and David Cross) again, they try to save China from the new antagonist, Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), a menacing peacock who cannot let go of his past. Lord Shen is one of the links to the panda’s past and a key to unlock Po’s memory. The Soothsayer, a goat (Michelle Yeoh), plays significant roles in both of their lives, as she understands the past, present, and future. To overcome Lord Shen and his personal crisis, Po must find “inner peace,” just as Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) has found.
Kung Fu Panda 2 borrows several ideas and recycles a number of jokes from its predecessor. The plot is thin and the same themes, such as identity and teamwork, are again emphasized in this film. However, the visual components make up for these setbacks. Several cinematographic and editing styles pay homage to the styles of wu xia films and kung fu comedy. The action sequences are pure fun, and the choreography of them is amazing. Not only is it much like that of a live-action martial arts film, the strengths and qualities of the animals were also considered to create flawless and humorous sequences. The warm color scheme is dynamic and sharp, the modeling and rendering of characters is pristine. The representation of ancient China is both authentic and stylized.
What stood out from Kung Fu Panda 2 to the original is its importance of the past. The 2-D effect and the stop-motion-like quality are explored more to present the background stories. The successful integration of the two animated styles contributes to the film’s overall visuals.
Although Kung Fu Panda 2 evokes a lot of cheap laughs and is not very thought- provoking, it has many redeeming qualities. The animation and action sequences are spectacular. Watch this great summer film and indulge; it’s okay to see a movie just for fun.
