REVIEW: ‘King Fu Panda 4’ Is Another Fun Entry In The Series

It’s not controversial to say that DreamWorks has the best franchises in animation. While Disney’s sequels have mostly been straight-to-video releases that are lesser than their theatrical counterparts (even if some are great), and Pixar’s sequels are hit-or-miss. All the while, DreamWorks has consistently delivered fun and memorable franchises. More than that, they’ve delivered cohesive narratives that build from movie to movie, whether Madagascar or How to Train Your Dragon. Each has its own unique and individual strength. When it comes to the Kung Fu Panda franchise, the first trilogy delivered some truly stunning wuxia-inspired action scenes, and hyper-stylization years before Into the Spider-Verse helped make it common in American studio animation. All this is to say that the Kung Fu Panda 4 has a lot to live up to.

After all, this is only the second time DreamWorks has made a fourth movie entry, and this is vastly different than Shrek Forever After. Where that movie felt like the end of Shrek and Fiona’s story (for now), Kung Fu Panda 4 is very much the start of a brand new chapter in the life of Po the Panda (Jack Black). It’s been eight years since the previous film, and a lot has changed for Po.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is all about change. For Po, change means getting tasked by Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) with becoming the new spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace, taking over Oogway. Unfortunately for the Dragon Warrior, he also has to find a replacement to protect the valley in his stead. Change for the franchise means moving away from the Furious Five (and their expensive voice actors) and instead meeting new characters, and new co-lead — Zhen (Awkwafina), the mysterious and rascally fox.

Zhen arrives at the right time, as word of the unlikely return of Tai Lung (Ian McShane) sparks panic and heralds the arrival of a shapeshifting dark sorceress called The Chameleon (Viola Davis). With the help of Zhen, Po embarks on a journey to the crime-ridden metropolis of Juniper City, from where The Chameleon plans to take over the world using dark magic. Meanwhile, Po’s parents, Ping (James Hong) and Li (Bryan Cranston), chase after the duo to keep their son safe.

Longtime series writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger — alongside newcomer Darren Lemke — keep the franchise fresh by turning Kung Fu Panda 4 into a bit of a buddy cop movie. This is a fun change that ensures the franchise can keep going. It also challenges Po by making him share the spotlight. It helps that Awkwafina and Jack Black have good chemistry. Their characters complement one another, and their interactions offer plenty of charm and laughs. The movie also shifts from a countryside setting to the fast-paced danger of the city, which is a gorgeous and fully realized location with multiple levels — each visually distinct and exciting. 

An extended cast helps Junipet City feel lived-in. Kung Fu Panda 4 pays extra attention to casting its Asian-inspired world by, well, casting Asian voice actors. From Ke Huy Quan and Ronny Chieng to Lori Tan Chinn (in a fantastic homage to the Landlady from Kung Fu Hustle), the cast adds authenticity to the film.

These movies have always exuded style, and director Mike Mitchell and co-director Stephanie Ma Stone don’t miss a step with Kung Fu Panda 4‘s wuxia-inspired fight scenes. There’s actual weight to the choreography — it helps that a real stunt coordinator and stunt performers were used as reference — and dynamic camera movements that take inspiration from live-action.

This is a great action film, with stylistic flourishes and the use of 2D that bring to mind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and its visual style. That said, much of the movie looks cheaper than its predecessors, even the 16-year-old first film. Character models look less sharp or detailed and more glossy, particularly early on when we are still in the Valley. It’s as if this was originally a straight-to-streaming release that got upgraded for the big screen. It’s distracting sometimes and disappointing compared to what came before, but it’s not enough of a problem to distract from the rest of the film.

After Kung Fu Panda — much like other DreamWorks movies — already got three different shows, including one that brought back Jack Black as Po and expanded the films’ world, it is fair to ask whether a fourth film is necessary. Has Kung Fu Panda 4 ever reached the creative or visual heights of the first two films? No, but it continues to deliver another fun, action-packed movie with great humor and a stacked cast. The big question this movie poses is whether a new trilogy with Po is a journey worth taking, and the answer is simply, yes.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is available nationwide in theaters March 8, 2024.