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After a flurry of adult-oriented pictures, it's time once again for something that the whole family might like to see.
That's the dilemma, really: Is there a movie that adults can watch with their kids that won't leave both parties feeling as if the movie was bland to appease the other group? Some animated flicks, I think, have done a pretty good job having us laugh while the younger set can enjoy it without getting bored.
I think the first "Shrek" was hysterical, and the "Narnia" movies also were entertaining to watch. Now, we get "Kung Fu Panda," an animated movie that not only has a fun story, but great animation to boot. Oh, yeah: The voices are very entertaining, too.
Jack Black provides the voice for Po, a Chinese panda who loves the art of kung fu but isn't exactly the model for a warrior. Be careful what you wish for, though, as Po accidentally becomes the chosen one, which kick-starts his adventure.
I think Black got the part based on his looks and not necessarily his voice, which visually is very funny, because, like the sweet-looking and somewhat overweight Po, Black also is inexperienced in the art of kung fu. The only thing missing was having Po front an animated musical act along the lines of Black's Tenacious D. There's just something about Black that is both enticing and rebellious at the same time.
That's the dilemma, really: Is there a movie that adults can watch with their kids that won't leave both parties feeling as if the movie was bland to appease the other group? Some animated flicks, I think, have done a pretty good job having us laugh while the younger set can enjoy it without getting bored.
I think the first "Shrek" was hysterical, and the "Narnia" movies also were entertaining to watch. Now, we get "Kung Fu Panda," an animated movie that not only has a fun story, but great animation to boot. Oh, yeah: The voices are very entertaining, too.
Jack Black provides the voice for Po, a Chinese panda who loves the art of kung fu but isn't exactly the model for a warrior. Be careful what you wish for, though, as Po accidentally becomes the chosen one, which kick-starts his adventure.
I think Black got the part based on his looks and not necessarily his voice, which visually is very funny, because, like the sweet-looking and somewhat overweight Po, Black also is inexperienced in the art of kung fu. The only thing missing was having Po front an animated musical act along the lines of Black's Tenacious D. There's just something about Black that is both enticing and rebellious at the same time.
Oh sure, he can be hit-and-miss in real life on the screen, but when you give him a voiceover role and apply it to an animated character, he kind of grows on you. He's more visually appealing, too, and won't scare the kids.
Fans of martial arts movies will find elements borrowed from the works of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan (who voices the character of Monkey in this film). Other voices include Ian McShane (from HBO's "Deadwood") as the villainous Tai Lung and Randall Duk Kim as the very wise kung fu inventor Oogway the turtle. McShane probably is one of the scariest animated characters I have seen in a long time, and if HBO ever does an animated version of its "Deadwood," he could borrow from his character in this animated flick.
Still, it's Dustin Hoffman's character and voice that stand out here. He plays kung fu master Shifu, who bares an uncanny resemblance (at least in size and sarcasm) to that of Jedi master Yoda. And as in "Star Wars," we have here one who has fallen toward the dark side - former student Tai Lung.
Master Shifu (and Hoffman) is dead-on with his humor, cynicism and wisecracks toward his new student, the lazy Po. Hoffman proves here that he's just as funny in an animated format as he is playing a human. Pairing him and Black together was genius, because with Black you get an almost improvised performance, then you have Hoffman, who has great timing from years of experience on stage and screen.
There are plenty of great voices here that fill out the rest of the colorful cast. Along with Shifu are Po's fighting heroes, the Furious Five: Monkey, Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Viper (Lucy Liu), Mantis (Seth Rogen) and Crane (David Cross). Every voice is a treat when you figure out who it is, then matching that voice with the character just adds to the fun.
Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson (with a script by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger), "Kung Fu Panda" doesn't try to force itself in the comedy department by referencing a bunch of other movies and making you feel stupid if you're not up on the inside jokes. Rather, it keeps the humor intact, which is really all you need.
Fans of martial arts movies will find elements borrowed from the works of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan (who voices the character of Monkey in this film). Other voices include Ian McShane (from HBO's "Deadwood") as the villainous Tai Lung and Randall Duk Kim as the very wise kung fu inventor Oogway the turtle. McShane probably is one of the scariest animated characters I have seen in a long time, and if HBO ever does an animated version of its "Deadwood," he could borrow from his character in this animated flick.
Still, it's Dustin Hoffman's character and voice that stand out here. He plays kung fu master Shifu, who bares an uncanny resemblance (at least in size and sarcasm) to that of Jedi master Yoda. And as in "Star Wars," we have here one who has fallen toward the dark side - former student Tai Lung.
Master Shifu (and Hoffman) is dead-on with his humor, cynicism and wisecracks toward his new student, the lazy Po. Hoffman proves here that he's just as funny in an animated format as he is playing a human. Pairing him and Black together was genius, because with Black you get an almost improvised performance, then you have Hoffman, who has great timing from years of experience on stage and screen.
There are plenty of great voices here that fill out the rest of the colorful cast. Along with Shifu are Po's fighting heroes, the Furious Five: Monkey, Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Viper (Lucy Liu), Mantis (Seth Rogen) and Crane (David Cross). Every voice is a treat when you figure out who it is, then matching that voice with the character just adds to the fun.
Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson (with a script by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger), "Kung Fu Panda" doesn't try to force itself in the comedy department by referencing a bunch of other movies and making you feel stupid if you're not up on the inside jokes. Rather, it keeps the humor intact, which is really all you need.
I also like that the voices match up to the animated characters - I mean really match up, almost too closely - which is a compliment. Was Po modeled after Black, or the other way around? The DVD extras, I'm sure, will explain it all.
One thing is for sure: The DreamWorks animation department has scored big here, and the film should reap big rewards at the box office.
- Howie Nave is host/manager of The Improv comedy club inside Harveys and reviews films for seven radio stations throughout Northern California and Nevada, including Sirius Radio. He hosts "Howie's Morning Rush" on Tahoe's KRLT radio, and you can see his film reviews on RSN. For past reviews, blogs and audio clips, visit www.HowieNave.com.
One thing is for sure: The DreamWorks animation department has scored big here, and the film should reap big rewards at the box office.
- Howie Nave is host/manager of The Improv comedy club inside Harveys and reviews films for seven radio stations throughout Northern California and Nevada, including Sirius Radio. He hosts "Howie's Morning Rush" on Tahoe's KRLT radio, and you can see his film reviews on RSN. For past reviews, blogs and audio clips, visit www.HowieNave.com.
Keepin' it reel:
Now Playing: "Kung Fu Panda"
Starring: The voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, David Cross and Ian McShane Directed by: Mark Osborne and John Stevenson Rated: PG for sequences of martial arts action Running time: 90 minutes Howie gives it: 4.5 out of 5 bagels |
