Saturday, May 04, 2024
"Kung Fu Panda 4" finally arrives in theatres 16 years after the original film and eight years since the last sequel. The movie benefits from pent-up demand and the advantage of animated characters who never age. With a fast pace and plenty of laughs, the film entertains both parents and children.
The story centres on Po (voiced by Jack Black), the Dragon Warrior who must face a new threat: the shape-shifting sorceress, the Chameleon (Viola Davis). Po also receives a surprising instruction from Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) to find and train a successor.
While reluctant to give up his role, Po is side-tracked by the Chameleon and a fast-talking thief, Zhen (Awkwafina), who offers to help him.
Despite some gags being revealed in trailers, the movie combines action with humour, with much of the comedy stemming from Po's friends and his love of food.
The voice cast, including returning actors and newcomers like Davis and Ke Huy Quan, breathes life into the characters. While the concept might feel somewhat recycled, director Mike Mitchell keeps the story moving and the action sequences exciting.
The production of the film incurred a cost of $140 million. The first film of the "Kung Fu Panda" series debuted in 2008, followed by the second in 2011 and the third in 2016. All three films have received a tremendous response from audiences.
The long wait between films has only increased fans' appetite for Kung Fu Panda, and with this success, a fifth movie might be on the horizon for around 2036.
"Kung Fu Panda 4" premiered in US theatres today and simultaneously debuted in Bangladesh, marking its release day alongside the rest of the world.
