MOVIE REVIEW: Kung Fu Panda 3 is a delicious third helping!

The third instalment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise hits theatres this week. The lovable Po is back with another adventure, only this time it’s much more personal than ever before. But will it endear itself to fans? Read our take on Kung Fu Panda 3.

Po (Jack Black) has settled in his role as the Dragon Warrior, defending the valley from the evil ones. Even his father -- well, his adoptive one -- has made peace with all the dangers, as has Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) and everyone else.

Po’s peaceful life goes haywire, though, when Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim), who’s in the Spirit Realm, is defeated by an old friend-turned-foe Kai (J.K. Simmons).


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Like every other antagonist, Kai isn’t satisfied by just defeating Oogway, he wants everyone! And to achieve this end, he goes on a Master-defeating spree, threatening to capture the Dragon Warrior himself.


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Back on Earth, Po’s life undergoes another turn when a Panda (Bryan Cranston) claiming to be Po’s real father comes to the valley. How does Po handle these problems in his personal life? What role does Master Oogway’s defeat in the spirit realm play in Po’s life and times? That’s what forms the rest of the film.

The first time Po came in our lives, he was a revelation. The second time was worthy of a warm welcome back, but the third part has its flaws. KFP3 has a straight forward script that’s not very unique, forcing the screenplay to meander in the middle.

However, even in a lazy middle, the script touches on aspects like a father-son relationship, which keeps the audience’s interest alive. Finally, the film covers all its flaws with an excellent climax that’s sure to leave the viewers emotional. This is one of the best feel-good climaxes we’ve seen in awhile.

This is the third outing of some of the characters and the actors who have lent their voices for the characters have handled their job with finesse. KFP debutant Bryan Cranston is a revelation as the voice of Po’s pa.

Dreamworks does an excellent job of bringing Po’s world back to life with amazing details on the CGI front. It’s amazing how the world looks realistic and still retains the old-world charm and beauty of 2D.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the world Po lives in is a very important and relevant character in the film. This also brings to the fore an important concept of the film – responsibility towards nature.

The background music of KFP3 is as heart-warming and sensational as it was in all the previous versions, especially the special rendition of ‘Kung Fu Fighting’, which has been a mainstay in the franchise since inception.

A special mention for the dialogue writers, who make Shifu mouth some of the most thoughtful lines we’ve heard in a while.

Few film franchises are capable of having the last film in the franchise achieve such a high, and Kung Fu Panda 3 does that.

With this instalment, the eight-year-old franchise and Po have become old friends who are welcome anytime on our screens, wrinkles, flaws, and all.


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