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Kung Fu Panda
DreamWorks Animation


8.1

based on 33 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 83 votes
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FILM:

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

MPAA RATING: PG for sequences of martial arts action

Starring Jack Black, Lucy Liu, Dustin Hoffman, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, and Jackie Chan

Enthusiastic, big and a little clumsy, Po is the biggest fan of Kung Fu around…which doesn’t exactly come in handy while working every day in his family’s noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po’s dreams become reality when he joins the world of Kung Fu and studies alongside his idols—the legendary fighters Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey—under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and it’s up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master into reality? Po puts his heart-and his girth-into the task, and the unlikely hero ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths. (Dreamworks)

GENRE(S):	Action \| Animation \| Comedy \| Family/Kids
WRITTEN BY:	Cyrus Voris (story) Ethan Reiff (story) Glenn Berger Jonathan Aibel
DIRECTED BY:	Mark Osborne John Stevenson
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: November 9, 2008 Theatrical: June 6, 2008
RUNNING TIME:	88 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Light and goofy, yet the fight scenes, which are the heart of the film, are lickety-split mad fun.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Tasha Robinson

Yet another celebrity-voiced animal adventure, but it stands out from the crowd of similar films with its lightning wit and whirlwind brio.

Washington Post John Anderson

Infectious and inspiring, despite one's best efforts to resist its charms.

The New York Times Manohla Dargis

At once fuzzy-wuzzy and industrial strength, the tacky-sounding Kung Fu Panda is high concept with a heart.

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

The stroke of genius is, of course, the film's hero -- the big, lovable bear that is the Chinese panda.

Time Richard Corliss

The new picture provides a master coursed in cunning visual art and ultra-satisfying entertainment.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

The voice cast includes Angelina Jolie as a tigress, omnipresent Seth Rogen as an acupuncturist who's a praying mantis, David Cross as a nasal crane and Lucy Liu as a cheerful viper.

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

Everything about Kung Fu Panda is a little better, a little sharper, a little funnier than the animated run of the mill.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

It's not an instant classic, but it's imaginatively drawn, full of charming characters, alive with action sequences and blissfully free of the snickering scatology and endless pop-culture references.

Christian Science Monitor Peter Rainer

The animation is consistently sporty and there are some choice comic riffs on martial arts movies.

Empire Chris Hewitt

Rudimentary plot and merely decent gags aside, this is the finest DreamWorks Animation effort since the first Shrek, chiefly because of its astonishing visuals and kinetic kung fu sequences.

New York Post Kyle Smith

Po speaks loudly and carries big shtick. Let the rest of the world cringe at our hyperconfidence, our charisma, our pure awesomeness.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

The result is a genuinely pleasing kung fu movie that kids and grown-ups can enjoy.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

It's the overriding spirit of the movie that forms its greatest appeal: Here's a movie that isn't intent on conquering the world but simply entertaining you for a breezy 90 minutes.

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

This movie leaves 'em laughing - and gasping.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

Thanks to a witty script and the recognizably goofy but absolutely earnest delivery of Black, Kung Fu Panda has a human soul, too.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is probably the best movie so far this year about a kung-fu fighting panda.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

Beautifully animated, the celebrity voice performances are terrific, and the action sequences negotiate the fine line between being physically convincing and becoming too intense for the young children.

Premiere Jenni Miller

It was definitely a great idea to give Kung Fu Panda the IMAX treatment. The fight scenes, quivering whiskers and moist noses, foggy mountaintops, and fluttering peach blossoms are equally impressive on the huge, curved screen.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Not one of the great recent animated films. The story is way too predictable, and truth to tell, Po himself didn't overwhelm me with his charisma. But it's elegantly drawn, the action sequences are packed with energy, and it's short enough that older viewers will be forgiving.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

This is a solid family film material, although one suspects the children will get a little more out of it than their parents.

Village Voice Ella Taylor

Perfectly pleasant, very good-looking, modestly funny, dispiritingly unoriginal variant on the nerd-with-a-dream recipe that's been clobbered to death in animated films for at least a decade now.

Los Angeles Times Carina Chocano

The action, heavily influenced by Hong Kong martial arts films, is beautifully choreographed.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

The essence of the film is slapsticky, chopsocky action, rendered with great verve and accompanied by bromides having to do with the need to believe.

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

Tongue-in-cheek dialogue, inventive slapstick and fight sequences, and luminous production design make this a treat.

Austin Chronicle Josh Rosenblatt

Po (Black) may be an animated panda bear, but make no mistake: Deep down he's really just a nerd with a pop-culture obsession.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Stephen Cole

The film lacks the comic ingenuity of the best in CGI critter movies. It's not fun-for-the-whole-family, like "Shrek." Still, it's a howl and amazement for anyone under 12.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

Kung Fu Panda goes nowhere surprising even as its images unscroll handsomely before our eyes. The sound could go out in the theater, and you wouldn't ask for your money back.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

This is an unashamedly old-fashioned children's movie, and a predictable message is part of the mission. But that's okay; what the movie lacks in surprises, it makes up for in whimsical fun.

NPR Bob Mondello

Though the film's simple story is squarely aimed at tots, DreamWorks' digitizers have referenced Eastern visual styles -- everything from delicate Chinese screens to flashy Japanese anime -- to enliven the look of the film.

Variety Todd McCarthy

A nice looking but heavily formulaic DreamWorks animation entry.

USA Today Claudia Puig

Though occasionally visually inventive, Kung Fu Panda is a disappointment when it comes to matters of simple black and white: the script.

Film Threat Pete Vonder Haar

It's impressive enough to look at, and the voice talent – especially Black and Hoffman - doesn't disappoint, but all the CGI wankery and high-end talent only barely allows Kung Fu Panda to rise above cliché.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 83 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Taylor C. gave it a10:
This movie is what I consider to be Dreamwork's best animted picture (Yeah that's right Shrek, I said it). The movie manages to have comedy that can not only appear to children, but also adults and teenagers. The story tells of a panda named Po that is a total Kung Fu nerd and is chosen to become the hero to save the land from the evil Tai Long. Everyone is shocked to see a fat panda picked, but Po refuses to give up. He shows that with perseverance and determination that anyone can come past their problems and become a hero. Kung Fu Panda features an incredible cast of voice actors including Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Agnelina Jolie, Lucy Lui, David Cross, Seth Rogen, and Jackie Chan. This movie is the most phenomenal animated film I've seen that is not from Pixar. I can't reccomend this movie enough to people of all ages.

Hyper S gave it a9:
A very worthy addition to the animation world. Great voice acting and a unique cast of characters. Especially the female tiger, which I thought was a piece of art. Cartoonist yet highly stylized. The turtle was pretty cool too. Add in some humor, a lovable unorthodox underdog hero, and a some beautifully animated fight sequences featuring a worthy villain with some neon colored special effects and you got yourself a very eye popping and attention grabbing movie. I'll rate Wall-E as the deeper more insightful thought-provoking movie while Kung Fu Panda is the more playful/humorous 'sit back, turn off the brain, and enjoy' film.

Edgar V. gave it a9:
It has been long since the first Shrek was released and dreamworks had a really innovative work, but finally things have changed... and the name is Kung Fu Panda! At first it doesn't seem any different from any other movies aimed at a younger audience, but after a closer look one can notice that this movie is more refined and have been morre cared for during production than the others. From the fur effects to the awesome matte paintings on the background everything is visually perfect and all of this is backed by an outstanding sound design that ranges from epic tracks to a beautiful and realistic lipsync to the voices of an "A Rank" cast. This is the Panda you have been looking to adopt, protect and have fun with!

Mark B. gave it a5:
Mediocre at best.

Safa M gave it a9:
It is worth to see this funny movie. You can relax and watch it with your family.

David R. gave it an8:
Very funny -- a good family movie for older kids.

Jay H. gave it a7:
Brilliant animation, great story and often laugh out loud funny. It's not up there with Finding Nemo, Toy Story or A Bug's Life, but it is still a fine film. Very entertaining.

Kung Fu Panda DreamWorks Animation

Kung Fu Panda
DreamWorks Animation