Kung Fu Panda 4 review – Jack Black and Awkwafina in hurricane of slapstick more miss than hit

The adorable martial arts expert has returned. Jack Black is back to voice the character of Po, the unlikely hero who has a passion for dumplings. It's been 8 years since the previous movie, Kung Fu Panda 3, but the delay for the fourth installment cannot be attributed to the DreamWorks animation team's dedication to producing a masterpiece. While the movie boasts plenty of physical comedy (some of which is quite amusing) and fight sequences that are appropriate for young audiences, it lacks the charm and sweetness that made the previous films so successful. During a viewing with my seven-year-old companion, she became uncomfortable and restless around the one-hour mark, indicating that the movie failed to hold her attention.

The story may be too complicated for young children, but the writers have made sure that anyone can enjoy it, even if they haven't seen the previous Kung Fu Panda movies. The movie starts with Po getting a promotion to become the spiritual leader of the valley, replacing his mentor, Shifu, who is voiced by the famous actor, Dustin Hoffman. However, before he can choose his successor, Po catches a tricky thief named Zhen. The two of them make a great team, with Po being lovable and Zhen being a sarcastic comedian.

Zhen tells Po about a scary new enemy named Chameleon, played by Viola Davis. However, Chameleon is not as memorable as the villains from past movies, such as Ian McShane and Gary Oldman. The adults in the cinema found two moments particularly funny: a scene with bulls inside a shop full of fragile objects and when Po attempts to meditate but can’t focus because he’s too hungry. The seven-year-old in attendance wasn’t as impressed, simply stating that the movie was “fun” because of the panda.