The well-worn story of ‘Kung Fu Panda 3’ is still great fun

Kung Fu Panda 3 wraps up the finest animation trilogy ever that isn’t about toys.

The film, directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni, begins in the spirit realm, where Oogway, the ancient kung fu master (and tortoise), is suddenly attacked by the villainous bull Kai, a former friend. The original Panda was arguably their most satisfying feature until the How to Train Your Dragon films appeared. The filmmakers planned it as a six-film saga, but each one essentially finds slovenly porcine panda Po (voice of Jack Black) realizing – once again – that he’s actually an unstoppable martial arts god in a doughy body and with a knack for Jack Blackish giggling.

Wise old Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) and Po’s pals, the Furious Five – Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Crane (David Cross) – are powerless against Kai’s moves and have their chi taken.

Jack Black takes a selfie with his animated Po character from “Kung Fu Panda 3”. The latter is crucial, because it’s the only way he can defeat Kai, who has returned to the real world and wants Po’s ch’i. His identity crisis is complicated by the arrival of Li Shan (Bryan Cranston), the panda who’s his biological father.

In this entry, Po encounters two new figures: One is his long-lost father, Li (Bryan Cranston), a blustery adventurer who whisks Po away to a magical village full of his roly-poly brethren. Meanwhile, Po’s diminutive, eternally exasperated master, Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), urges his protege to strike out on his own to develop his own powers: “If you only do what you can do”, he tells Po, “you will never be more than you are now”.

Perhaps no moral is as prevalent in children’s cinema as the concept of knowing and accepting yourself.

With a fantastic cast and terrific animation, Kung Fu Panda 1 and 2 are fun and enjoyable and an entertaining movie for everyone. For now, Kung Fu Panda 3 looks like the hit DreamWorks has been seeking.

Who hasn’t fallen in love with the adorable Po, as he continues on his legendary adventures of awesomeness? Now that his enemies have been defeated, he needs to transition from warrior to Sifu, or Kung Fu teacher-a role he’s ill-suited for. Suffice it to say, this doesn’t sit well with Po’s adoptive goose dad Mr. Ping (James Hong).

Then Po teaches the other pandas to fight back against Kai.

“I turned down many more brilliant things and more great directors than any actor I know”. Writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger do a nice job of bringing the story along, with the usual jokes and sight gags.

Kate Hudson is braving New York City’s ice and snow to promote her new film, Kung Fu Panda 3, and looking fabulous while doing so. The blade-wielding Kai has been stealing the chi (energy) from thousands of kung fu masters in the otherworldly Spirit Realm and turning them into fierce jade zombies. The limited show only allowed two tight screen times of 89 minutes each at selected theatres around the country.