Review: 'Kung Fu Panda 4' ska-dooshes into yet another fun, frolic & lovable adventure inspite of the monotony

Skadoosh to ska-blam! Everyone's loved and adored kung fu master panda. Po is back with yet another adventure, and this one is seemingly the 'biggest' of all. If you've been invested in Po's (Jack Black) journey from being an orphan panda to the 'dragon warrior', you know how incredibly entertaining, fun and intriguing his trajectory has been. In the fourth instalment in sixteen years, Po now has bigger tasks and problems at hand. He needs to choose a successor to become the next Dragon Warrior but has another new master villain lurking in the form of the Chameleon (Viola Davis). A new friend/foe, new allies and a truckload of hurdles and humor, is this one final ride for Po? Having had the chance Kung Fu Panda 4 beforehand, here's what I thought about it-

Impeccable Humor, Great Animation & Splendid Voice Cast

Humor and impeccable animation have always been this franchise's high points and it doesn't falter in these departments yet again. Self-aware, sarcastic, laugh-out-loud - you name the kind of laughs you can, and you find it here. The effective way to pull that off is never trying too hard, and the writers are wary of that as they seamlessly blend these funny moments into the rather simplistic storyline with ease. The animation is once again, as flawless as you imagine it to be. Newer characters, bigger stakes and more ambitious frames - Kung Fu Panda 4 has all of it where it is so aware of how time has evolved since the inception of the franchise and does full justice to live up to the evolution.

Jack Black is Po, and Po is Jack Black. It is one of those voice cast performances in a successful animated franchise that become synonymous with each other. Black once again voices Po with the perfect amount of innocence, fire, intensity, and pure love and friendship. The addition of Awkwafina as Zhen is also an unusual but impactful choice. She brings a certain raw element to the world, and her chemistry with Black's Po becomes the central focus that works really well.

Predictable Twists & Turns But Still Lovable

Kung Fu Panda 4 does suffer with a predictable storyline, where it falls into the tropes it would have wanted to avoid otherwise. A formidable villain with a predictable backstory, an expected betrayal between two characters towards the climax, and a hero moment that doesn't entirely seem justified - Kung Fu Panda 4 might have you disinterested in these anticipated twists and turns. While that is quite a hindrance, it is amazing how, even after four films, this world seems endearing enough for you to still be invested and hooked throughout. Po's saga and the constant adventures he finds himself in never get old, and the makers realise that they need just the right amount of upgrades to keep it fresh and engaging is enough for you to keep caring, loving and applauding Po and his friends and family.

The Verdict

Kung Fu Panda 4 doesn't necessarily rise above its tropes and turns, but they never become a bigger concern for you to be affected or disappointed by this world that you otherwise love so much. Kung Fu Panda 4 is entertaining, adorable and incredibly fun - just like Po himself is.

Rating - ***1/2 (3.5/5)