I am always skeptical about sequels. Rarely planned and often a bit desperate, follow-up films have a tendency to taint the original offering. So when I heard that Paramount was prepping Kung Fu Panda 2, I had my doubts. But with the entire slew of voice actors returning and an action-packed story I admit that on this rare occasion I am okay with the extra serving.
Po, living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, is busy protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But a new foe has risen with a secret, unstoppable weapon and the villain is threatening the future of kung fu. The gang finds themselves fighting for their lives - and China - as they attempt to restore peace and return home safely.
Jack Black and Angelina Jolie lead an all-star cast in this animated sequel, but one must not be fooled. While bearing a '2' in the title, seeing the first film is not required for complete understanding. Po's childhood is a constant topic of conversation throughout the film, and a slight teaser lends one to believe that Paramount is planning to complete the trilogy with a third chapter. Here the jokes, action and characters are all fun and the dilemmas are overcome quite easily, but in the end, we shouldn't expect much more from a children's film.
