Kung Fu Panda 4

With this being the fourth film in the franchise since 2008, Kung Fu Panda 4 sees Po taking on a shape shifting chameleon who wants to obtain the martial arts skills from the spirits of Po's defeated enemies to rule over China. All that as Po learns that he has to become a spiritual leader and thus pass on the Dragon Warrior mantle to someone else, and he believes that a young Fox thief is a good successor despite Master Shifu's reluctance. Even after four films, this franchise knows how to give audiences perfectly choreographed, animated, edited, and creative fight scenes. Jack Black as Po and Awkwafina as Zhen, the Fox thief, have such a strong and memorable chemistry that they are the heart of the movie. You also get Viola Davis as a very memorable villain and Ian McShane returns as Tai Lung managing to keep his threatening presence but also show how his time as a spirit have changed him. The writing is pretty good, but often focuses too much on comedic hijinks compared to the first three movies. Especially when the focus shifts towards Po's biological and adopted fathers wanting to help him as their antics does drag at times. There are also decisions made by the studio that do affect the overall film, such as demanding at most a 90 minute limit which makes the pacing a little off at times. Another decision was to not have the Furious Five appear until the end, though voiceless to keep the budget low. On one hand, they're Po's allies who's differing fighting styles makes for great fight scenes, but on the other it did allow for Po and Zhen to better develop and introduced some new interesting characters that would go and help him. It may not reach the heights of its predecessors, but Kung Fu Panda 4 is still a pretty fun movie on its own right. Over all: 89%

2024 top list so far:

1. Dune: Part 2

2. The Book of Clarence

3. Drive-Away Dolls

4. Kung Fu Panda 4

5. Lisa Frankenstein

6. Argylle

7. Mean Girls 2024