Kung Fu Panda

Animated movies are a sure thing at the box office and, next to Pixar, DreamWorks Animation has reaped quite a bit of that success over the years. Responsible for such hits as Madagascar, The Shrek franchise, and Over The Hedge, it's obvious that these guys know what they're doing; and with their latest release, Kung Fu Panda, that lucrative trend will surely continue.

Ok, I realize that I'm 21-years old and that a movie like this is not something I should be into but, just in watching it, it really was something that made me feel like a kid again. Long gone are those days of yesterday and as much as I would love to travel back in time and re-live life where nothing else seemed to matter, it's comforting to know that a movie (let alone an animated movie) can have that same effect on you. Yet and still, Kung Fu Panda is an excellent animated film and is fun for the entire family. Not since last year's Ratatouille have I enjoyed anything more and as far as I'm concerned, DreamWorks animation is slowly, but surely, starting to close that gap between them and Pixar. Then again, maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself as Pixar is set to release WALL-E in the next couple of weeks but, something's telling me that it will not be as successful as other projects of years past. For better or worse, that remains to be seen, however, and I guess the next couple of weeks will unfold in due time; but all the while, Kung Fu Panda has set the standard for the summer and I'd be hard pressed to find anything that can top it.

So, what's it all about? Kung Fu Panda is basically about a lowly Panda who dreams of becoming a martial arts master. Voiced by the incomparable Jack Black, Po the Panda is "chosen" as the one will become the legendary Dragon Warrior and from there, it's an adventure unlike any other. Just like most animated films, the underlying theme is one of "will" and "believing in your self" and Kung Fu Panda manages to tie everything together quite nicely. The animation is on point and the fight scenes are some of the best you'll ever see for a cartoon but, it's the voice acting that makes this movie work. Believe it or not , Jack Black is not as annoying as you would think and is able to, actually, pull this sort of thing off. Kids will love his portrayal of Po and if all the laughter that abounded while watching this at the local theater was any indication, I'm guessing that a sequel is a no brainer.

Overall, Kung Fu Panda delivers in every possible way but only suffers in that it starts out kind of slow. Once things pick up, however, the movie makes for fun for the whole family and will surely become a guilty pleasure for quite a few. I, for one, was thoroughly impressed and was satisfied with the end result but, don't take my word for it. Go out and see it for yourself but don't be surprised if that kid inside of you, has you smiling all the while. The more you embrace it, the more fun you'll have and, trust me, sometimes trying NOT to smile is the hardest thing in the world.

Rating: 3 ½ inkblots out of 5