Review of film: “KUNG FU PANDA 2”

2011, 06-07:

Review of film: “KUNG FU PANDA 2”

         A “BEAR” of a Different COLOR (& With MARTIAL ARTS Abilities)!...

... Black (& White + JACK) are BACK...  In 2008, JACK BLACK voiced the words of an animated black & white giant PANDA named “Po” in the film “KUNG FU PANDA”...  Well, they’re BACK again, in a sequel to that movie...  

 

...  In the first film, Po had been adopted by a goose named “Mr. Ping” (JAMES HONG) who ran a noodle & dumpling restaurant.  Wanting to do something more “significant” with his life, Jack decided to learn KUNG-FU from “Shifu” (voiced by DUSTIN HOFFMAN) to fight some evil-doers... 

 

...  As this new movie starts, there’s a wicked white (albino) peacock named “Lord Shen” (voiced by GARY OLDMAN) who has angrily decided he wants to conquer the country.  To do that, he creates gunpowder & uses his army of Wolves to provide people to build CANNONS to try to defeat others who are against his plans...

 

....  Naturally, Dustin wants to STOP him.  He thus contacts Jack & wants him to again work with his Kung Fu “good guy” warriors.  That group is called the “Furious Five”, & consists of the following:

...  "Tigress", the 2nd most important character after Jack (voiced by ANGELINA JOLIE);  weapon-wielding (but humorous) "Monkey" (JACKIE CHAN);  the sweet green snake called "Viper" (LUCY LIU);  patient "Crane" (DAVID CROSS) who breaks Jack's falls (which tend to be numerous as he's frequently a bit awkward);  and sarcastic, speedy & super-strong "Mantis" (SETH ROGEN)...

...  With the help of the “Wolf Boss” (DANNY McBRIDE), Gary is able to take control of Gongmen City--  by overpowering the Council there consisting of “Master Thundering Rhino” (VICTOR GARBER), “Master Storming Ox” (DENNIS HAYSBERT), and “Master Croc” (JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME)...

 

 

...  Despite the non-encouraging words of the "Soothsayer" (MICHELLE YEOH), Gary continues with his plans to use his "dragon" fleet of CANNONS to try to slam his opponents into submission...

  

...  But, Jack & the “Furious Five” set out to CONFRONT Gary & his villainous henchmen...  There are numerous scenes of them FIGHTING the Wolf Army and others in Gongmen City...

...  Will Jack & his group be able to overcome the Wolf pack that vastly OUTNUMBERS them?...  Will Jack be able to reach a state of inner “control” that will allow him to DEFEAT his enemies by the end of this sequel?...  Will Jack end-up getting what he WANTS out of life?...

...  This has some very finely done ANIMATION work, particularly in the plentiful “FIGHT” scenes which often utilize a striking complexity to the “swirling” action...  And, there are a number of funny little segments (with the “slapstick” ones drawing appreciative laughs from the pre-teen kids in the audience)...

...  The movie is not “great”, but it’s self-described “AWESOMENESS” provides a cute & FUN experience (especially for youngsters & those “young-at-heart)...  Thus, I’m rating it 7.25 of 10 stars...

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