Guys, Somebody Dumped Some Enjoyable Into Kung Fu Panda And It's Totally Great

[Lumenskir]

So this weekend I had the pleasure of having my cousins (aged 7 and 9) come down to Orlando for a visit. They got here too late for any theme park shenanigans, and it was decreed that, being the 'cool cousin', I take them to a movie at the theaters.

If you have any sort of retention about my weird film defenses, these are the same cousins who have given me an appreciation for those direct-to-DVD Disney sequels and Pixar's Cars (Seil, it would be totally great if you could find those quote links so I can add them in later). Even with that film pedigree, I was still dismayed because the second I knew I would be accompanying them to a movie was the second I realized what the only viable option out this week was Kung Fu Panda. (I suppose it could have been worse; if they were both two years older I would have probably been roped into seeing that Zohan movie). After the constant advertising inundations, and the recent output of Over the Hedge and Shrek 3, and the fact that Jack Black hasn't been in anything watchable since Heat Vision and Jack, I wasn't too thrilled...

And then the movie turns out to be not just watchable, but supremely fun and delightful. The plot is basically a madlibs of old kung-fu flicks ([fat] and improbable [kung-fu] wannabe is [inexplicably chosen] to learn [ancient techniques] over the objections of [more qualified] [students]. Meanwhile, [evil snow leopard] also wants to learn [ancient techniques] etc, etc) except it totally knows and indulges in the history with such glee you can't help but get drawn in. And the actual fights (along with the setpieces (wait for the prison sequence)) are just gorgeous. Hell, the fact that Dreamworks managed to make a CGI movie without some annoyingly incongruous pop song shoved in the middle is almost worth the price of admission.

So yeah, if you're looking for a movie to see in the near future, you really don't need an excuse like "Taking my younger [blanks]" to see Kung Fu Panda.

[Kaneda]

I was very surprised by its positive reception. I'm lazy and cheap and don't go to movies in theaters unless I'm exceptionally compelled to, but I might see this movie on TV someday...

[CelesJessa]

I just got back from the movie and I thought it was fantastic. A lot of fun and beautifully made. I absolutely loved the style it was made in. By now, CG animation cartoon movies have become so saturated that it's not that interesting to look at, but I thought the visuals for Kung Fu Panda were amazing.

If not just for the opening dream sequence, this movie is completely worth seeing in theaters.

Heck, I would consider buying it on DVD, and I never buy movies. (Other than the original Disney VHSs and the FMA I have, like, three DVDs. Seriously.) (those being The Incredibles, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the original Shrek (oh yeah, and Quest for Camelot))

I mean, unless you don't like fun.

[Lumenskir]

Heck, I would consider buying it on DVD, and I never buy movies.
Thank god for DVD-crazy aunts and babysitting time. The only possible downside is that they'll start reenacting the fight scenes during my viewing experience, but they're brothers so it'll mostly just be an excuse for them to do what their genes are forcing them to act out anyway.
I mean, unless you don't like fun.
I just realized that the main reason I liked it so much is that it's basically Avatar with furries. Great all-ages humor, beautiful action to look at, and a nice sentimental core.

[RentAThug]

I got free passes to see the sneak preview of Kung Fu Panda from work a couple of weeks ago and I was also surprised how much I enjoyed it. I wasn't expecting much, but it was a lot of fun. I kind of wish they had done the entire film in the same style as the opening dream sequence, though, that sequence was gorgeous.

[Kaneda]

I saw it and I definitely enjoyed it. Some parts of it disappointed me, such as the film's climax, and the fact that the main conflict of the movie was solved with a training montage.

[Rokrin]

I liked this movie a lot, actually. First time I've enjoyed Jack Black through an entire movie in a while.

The Noodle Duck was the best character in it though. He made that entire movie for me.

[Lumenskir]

and the fact that the main conflict of the movie was solved with a training montage.
Aww cut it some slack, what would a sendup of kung fu movies be without a training montage? I did like that the majority of time was spent showing off what Po learned in action. Sweet, sweet dumpling-laden action.
The Noodle Duck was the best character in it though. He made that entire movie for me.
I have to give the nod to Mantis. The acupuncture gag was good but the "What the hell have I done!" bit when he holds the rope bridge up by himself was just awesome.

Honorable mention of course goes to Oogway, for basically being Turtle Uncle Iroh.

[Possum Knight]

By all rights, this movie SHOULD suck. But...when your best friend comes back from it and can't stop quoteing all the "funny lines" like you just got done watching a "Rush Hour movie marathon" then you know it has to be pretty decent.

[Azisien]

The movie was awesome. You should all go spend your hard-earned money on it.

[Kerensky287]

I haven't seen it yet but:

1) The reviews are excellent, considering it's intended to be a kids' movie.
2) Jack Black is my hero and has been since School of Rock/my discovery of Tenacious D.
3) You guys are all praising it like crazy.

At this point I'm excited enough about it that I'm refusing to read the spoilers. I ALWAYS read spoilers. I have to see this... like, tomorrow, or something.

Of course, I'm getting a job at the local movie theatre so I'll probably see it eventually anyway, but... eh.

[The Argent Lord]

Yes. This movie really was pretty awesome. The turtle(saw it two weeks ago, don't remember the name) was definitely my favorite character.

[LeefRyder]

I was really suprised, I really haven't laughed at any of Jack Black's movies this hard ever, and if I did it was more of a 'Strange Wilderness' shark laugh.

[PCD]

I saw all the trailers and expected it to be awful. Then I saw a million good reviews for it, and expected it to be really really good. My expectations were fulfilled. But which one?
The second one.

I think the way Lumen put it was just about right: Avatar with Furries. The Kung Fu is really good, and there's a lot of great callbacks to earlier in the story that I thought set it off nicely, especially the acupuncture, and even though the trailers showed how Po's eating became the method of his training, I still thought it was really cool to see it in action.

And on top of awesome moves and amusing moments, the characters were all really good, I think. Awesome voice acting (which is particularly impressive when you realize it was an All-Star cast; usually that means they just go for names rather than compatability) really set off the characters' personalities. They could have just made a lot of fat jokes, but the fact that they actually pointed out the ridicule that weight has and the depression it can give people was a really nice touch.

Overall: Go see the goddam movie, it's good.