A flurry of flawed, but fast-moving fun
While Po (Jack Black) is off enjoying his own version of “kicking back and catching some rays”, little does he know that new threats loom for both him – and the Valley of Peace.
There have been sightings of the panda’s original nemesis, Tai Lung (Ian McShane), seemingly escaped from the spirit world, while Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) has been itching to have a word. So, when Po eventually returns to the village, it’s not only to open the latest branch of his fathers’ Dragon Warrior Noodles and Tofu business.
Shifu insists destiny is calling Po to make the next step – choose his successor to be the next dragon warrior so that he, in turn, can become the Valley’s spiritual leader.
However, despite possessing the staff of wisdom, Po is unconvinced that “passing along wisdom and inspiring hope” is the best use of his special set of skills.
“Kicking butt and taking names” is his forte, he insists, “and I’m not even good at the last part”. Still, he reluctantly holds interviews with five candidates, only to infuriate Shifu by declaring himself the “new” Dragon Warrior.
Such smugness, though, doesn’t last long. Only narrowly managing to defeat a would-be thief in the Jade Palace, he’s shocked to learn from the perpetrator, Zhen (Awkwafina), that Tai Lung’s “return” has been masterminded by a powerful new enemy. The Empress of Disguise, the Lizard of Lies, the Chameleon (Viola Davis) is a shape-shifting sorceress with designs on significantly expanding her power base from Juniper City.
While Shifu believes stopping her is a job for the Furious 5, Po is equally determined that this is the perfect opportunity for one last “Dragon Warrior Adventure”, especially since he’ll have the perfect guide in former Juniper City resident Zhen.
Given it has been eight years since Po took down J.K. Simmons’ Master Kai in what then appeared to be not only the end of a trilogy but also the entire series, even the most ardent Dragon Warrior fan could be forgiven for forgetting characters like the Bryan Cranston-voiced Li Shan, or his relationship to the main panda.
Directors Mike Mitchell (Trolls, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked) and Stephanie Ma Stine (She-Ra and the Princess of Power) and series writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger (joined this time by Turbo, Goosebumps and Shazam! scribe Darren Lemke) seem out to capitalise on that, essentially offering a retread of the third instalment’s power-stealing conceit, while conveniently “forgetting” that Po had already had a new role bestowed on him by the time the credits rolled last time out.
But while there’s a sense of déjà vu, there is enough action, humour and visual inventiveness to ensure boredom never sets in. Davis (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) voices good villain, while Cranston (Argylle) and James Hong (Everything Everywhere All At Once) make a terrific “odd couple” as Po’s two dads. And although Awkwafina (Raya and the Dragon) doesn’t really push the boat out in playing a wisecracking, wily fox, she and Black spark well off one another.
Thrown in cool cameos from Hong’s fellow Everything star Ke Huy Quan as a pangolin crime-lord and Joy Ride’s Ronny Chieng as a fast-talking fish, two fabulous set-pieces at the cllff-top Happy Bunny Tavern and an unforgettable Black version of a late-90s banger over the end credits and you’ll forgive this fourth Panda its failings and foibles and simply be caught up in its flurry of fast-moving fun.