By Evan Heins -- Eagle Staff Writer/Photography Editor
Have you heard of the legends of the Kung Fu Panda? Raised in a noodle shop, never seeking glory or fame? If not, grab your bowls of noodles and listen to the tale of this Legend of Awesomeness.
"Kung Fu Panda 4" is the fourth movie in the “Kung Fu Panda” franchise. It is an American animated action/comedy film and it came out March 8, 2024. Kung Fu Panda 4 was announced to be the last film in the franchise with many critics having mixed to mediocre reviews for the movie.
The film follows the titular character Po, voiced by the American actor and comedian Jack Black, as he is faced with a difficult decision: whether to continue to serve as Dragon Warrior or to choose a new Dragon Warrior to take his place and instead become the Peacekeeper. As Peacekeeper, no one will be able to see his martial arts feats, and this just when all the citizens in the Valley of Peace were finally starting to take him seriously.
Po goes through many new candidates to take over his position for the Dragon Warrior but due to his immaturity he procrastinates choosing. To help, his mentor Master Shifu, voiced by the American actor Dustin Hoffman, brings him to the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom to find inner peace. Just then the Jade Palace is broken into.
This is where Po finds the other main character of the film and the antagonist’s disciple, Zhen, voiced by American actress and rapper, Awkwafina. Po defeats her and locks her in a prison atop a mountain, when he hears that his enemy from the first film Tai Lung, voiced by the British actor Ian McShane, has returned and attacked the working locals, but it turns out that it’s a mirage. The villain is actually the Chameleon, voiced by the American actress and film producer Viola Davis.
We find out the the Chameleon plan is to open the door to the spirit realm by stealing Po’s Staff of Wisdom given to him by Master Oogway, so that she can steal the power of all of Po’s former foes. To get it she uses Zhen to manipulate Po into giving it to her. When her plan eventually works, Po faces the hardest enemy of his life. Po and Zhen then team
up against Chameleon to defeat her, and after Po’s teaching Zhen of the Staff of Wisdom, he gives her the staff, and she defeats the Chameleon. Po finally realizes he has found his new Dragon Warrior.
The movie was the cheapest to produce as a whole in the franchise, taking around $85 million to produce. Unfortunately to most fans and critics, it is considered to be the weakest in the franchise, although it still received a critic score of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes and a fan score of 88% with some fans disappointed by the eight year gap in between the third and fourth films.
While the film may not win any awards or Oscars, it is still a great light hearted adventure and comedy movie with a great message about maturing and making better decisions that both adults and kids can enjoy.