Kung Fu Panda 3 is the third film in the Kung Fu Panda franchise continues at the point when Po's departed panda father abruptly returns, the rejoined twosome goes to a mystery panda heaven to meet scores of amusing new panda characters.The true enemy is about to surface
With a star-studded voice cast (Black in the lead, with Rogen and Cross on backup) there's no shortage of humor. But the animation is the real standout in the film.
Building on character development and plot points from the first two films, this story manages to feel both like a complete tale in and of itself and like the successful continuation.
The new sequel lacks the tear-jerking revelations and darker edge that characterized its predecessor. Visually though, it's a candy-colored 3-D treat, from the exquisite sunset that shimmers over the panda enclave to the psychedelia of the spirit world.
While the newness of the original film is long gone, this third installment is not just the culmination of the series but the best of them... and the perfect place to stop.
I think the secret to the appeal of the entire Kung Fu Panda franchise is the enormous affection we feel for Po, that seemingly bumbling good guy who also can rise to the occasion and showcase true heroism and mystical power.
Directors Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni give Po's adventures the same gorgeously stylized look as in the previous films and find good humor in Po's unexpected return to his fellow pandas.
So vividly immersive is Kung Fu Panda 3 - so vibrant, so tactile - it will make you feel as if you've stepped into a fully realized world. And then once you've stepped out, you'll be craving dumplings.
