Kung Fu Panda 4: A Panda Past Its Prime? Here's my Review on it:
Eight years after the successful conclusion of the Kung Fu Panda trilogy, "Kung Fu Panda 4" arrives with a hefty burden of expectation. The review in Roger Ebert argues the film fails to live up to its predecessors, lacking the charm, depth, and thematic richness that made the original trilogy so beloved.
A World of Peace Disrupted
The tranquility of the Valley of Peace is once again shattered by a new villain - the shape-shifting sorceress, the Chameleon (voiced by Viola Davis). Her goal: to steal Po's Staff of Wisdom and exploit it to absorb the powers of every villain in the Spirit Realm. This plot point bears a striking resemblance to the villain Kai's scheme in "Kung Fu Panda 3," raising concerns about a lack of originality.
New Faces, Familiar Antics
To combat the Chameleon, Po reluctantly teams up with Zhen, a thieving fox voiced by Awkwafina. While Awkwafina excels at witty sidekick roles, the reviewer laments the overused trope, particularly considering her recent portrayals in films like "The Little Mermaid," "The Bad Guys," and "Raya and the Last Dragon." The film also introduces Han, a leader of street thieves voiced by Ke Huy Quan. However, his potential remains largely untapped, another casualty of the film's overstuffed cast.
A Glaring Absence
A puzzling decision involves the Furious Five - Tigress, Crane, Viper, Mantis, and Monkey. These crucial characters, whose teamwork and individual strengths were central to the trilogy's success, are inexplicably absent on solo missions. This not only undermines the group's core identity but also creates a plot hole, as their combined abilities would be invaluable in facing threats like the Chameleon.