Kung Fu Panda (4)

This animation is strictly for kids, there are no in-jokes or plots for adults so unless you have kids and must endure this, give it a miss. A poor 4.

Set in China, a panda (I didn't take notice of the characters names because... well, it was a bit too painful) dreams of becoming a kung-fu master. But he is a clumsy fat unfit stumbling fool so it is a surprise when then the current master selects him as the dragon master. At first, the kung-fu trainer and other students make life hard for the panda in the hope that he will give up. Ultimately, when their enemy, a tiger, has escaped prison and it is discovered that the panda can be motivated and trained with food, they team together to fight the tiger. When the tiger has defeated all but the panda, the panda steps up with his unorthodox kung-fu to beat the tiger.

The first few minutes I enjoyed - it was over the top narrative and old-school flat animation instead of today's 3D computer stuff. I thought "Hey, this is going to be a laugh", but it was just a dream. Then it went into the story proper and it became a nightmare. The story is so simple that the writers stumbling attempt at getting some moral messages weaved in was a mess. Unlike better animations that parents can enjoy along with their children, this would only appeal to five year olds, and only to boys because of all the fighting and action. So if you must endure it with your kids, make sure you take along a book for you read.

I have since been corrected, young girls do like this film - there are strong lead female characters that are not the standard whimpering "save me" type.