Kung Fu Panda 2

Release Date: May 26, 2011

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.

Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson 

Cast: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong, Michelle Yeoh.

After defeating the evil Tai Lung and saving all of China, Po—the robust panda, and newly minted ‘Dragon Warrior’—faces his greatest challenge yet, in the latest sequel from DreamWorks Animations. The question of his origin comes into play when he confronts an enemy from his past that is hell-bent on destroying Kung Fu and all those who seek it. As memories begin to resurface, our newfound hero finds himself examining his identity, making this second go-around a much more rooted story than the first. A celebrity-packed cast returns to lend their voices, including Jack Black who perfectly repeats his stride as the lovable panda. Joining the sequel is highly respected actor Gary Oldman, who brings a serious malevolence to his villainous character of a peacock, Lord Shen. This time, however, the ‘Furious Five’ gets less notice, with the exception of Angelina Jolie as Tigress, as they are presented as hero support rather than leaders. The film becomes more about Po and his back-story than anything else. First-time director, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, puts her artistic résumé on display, as she adds a rich quality of color and movement to the feature. While “Kung Fu Panda 2” isn’t as intriguing as the first, the fun remains the same and is sure to please the crowd of all ages. In the words of Jack Black, "Skadoosh!"

Rating: 3½ stars