Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Kung Fu Panda 4 review says that while this is not the most brilliant installment in the franchise, it’s bound to make a lot of kids happy, which will in turn satisfy the adults who see it with them. 

Really, does anyone expect much from the fourth installment of any series that doesn’t appear to be moving toward an identifiable end? These days, all our favorite characters, animated or otherwise, get spin-off movies and TV shows, so it’s kind of hard to tell where the franchises pick up and leave off.

So I wouldn’t advise going to see Kung Fu Panda 4 with great expectations of a unique cinematic experience. Go for the comfort of watching the endearing characters that you’ve loved and laughed with for over a decade now.

If you set out to watch the fourth installment with these gentle expectations, you won’t be disappointed. After all, we haven’t seen Po (voiced by Jack Black) in a feature length film for a good eight years.

Kung Fu Panda 4 review — The plot thickens

This time around we find that Po has reached the zenith of his crime fighting career and has become quite comfortable in his supreme Dragon Warrior status. So of course the dour Shift (Dustin Hoffman), expects him to progress to the next level, which involves becoming the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace.

Sounds a little too Zen for Po, who is perfectly comfortable with the status quo. So he’s obviously reluctant to choose his successor as the new Dragon Warrior. Until…

Fate, in the form of a powerful shape shifting chameleon (Viola Davis) threatens to take over their world in nefarious ways, and she’s really not very nice about it. When crafty fox Zhen (Awkwafina — my new favorite character) gets involved, you can’t be too certain which way the wind will blow.

Additional characters are whimsically voiced by favorites Bryan Cranston, James Hong, Ian McShane and Ke Huy Quan, who all seem to be having a great time.

The animation is phenomenal, as we’ve come to expect from Dreamworks projects. These animators do love their fight scenes, however, and while they’re wildly artistic, the over abundance of them does get tiring. After all, we all know pretty much how they’ll eventually end.

The same can be said for seasoned animation director Mike Mitchell’s entire film. You know where it’s going from the very beginning, but the journey is pleasant enough, especially for children. Pandas of the past have included a little more wry humor for the adults, and I would have liked to see a bit more of that.

But the obvious delight and laughter experienced by the children in the audience should be entertaining enough for any adult. Fans both young and old will happily leave the theater smiling, kicking and crying “Skadoosh!”

Rated PG

1 Hour 34 Minutes

If this Kung Fu Panda review encourages you to fight your way to the theater, get times and tickets at Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Kung Fu Panda 4 review says that while this is not the most brilliant installment in the franchise, it’s bound to make a lot of kids happy, which will in turn satisfy the adults who see it with them.