'Kung Fu Panda 4' lacks breakthrough

The script of "Kung Fu Panda 4" follows a rut, not creating many surprises compared to previous films.

* Article reveals movie content

Trailer 'Kung Fu Panda 4'

Trailer "Kung Fu Panda 4". Video: CGV

Directed by Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Ma Stine, the film marks the return of the panda Po (voiced by Jack Black) - now a Dragon Warrior, with unparalleled power. After defeating the villains three times in the previous part, Po is nominated to be the leader of the Valley of Peace. He needs to find and train others to become Dragon Warriors, before taking on the new position.

One day, the witch Chameleon (Viola Davis) appears, threatening the peace of humanity. While tracking the villain, Po comes across Zhen (Awkwafina), a fox wanted for theft. Zhen promises to help Po catch the criminal if they both join forces. Po and Zhen must convince many other criminals to join forces to defeat Chameleon.

The film has a predictable script, the situations are handled simply. The work follows the old motif, following the main character's journey to eliminate evil and protect peace. Initially, the screenwriter described the villain Chameleon as a powerful enemy, able to copy anyone. The Chameleon's plot is to steal the fighting secrets of Po's past opponents, thereby defeating the main character. Despite creating a villain with many tricks, the filmmaker handled the fight scene at the end quickly when Po easily defeated the enemy.

The absence of the Five Heroes - Po's teammates - also makes the work not leave much of an impression. The characters have their own adventures, only Po the bear and his new friend - the fox Zhen - accompany them on the journey to find Chameleon. Besides, the process of goose father Ping (voiced by James Hong) and panda Ly Son - Po's father (voiced by Bryan Cranston) searching for their son makes the film's plot rambling, not contributing much to the main content.

Many characters from the previous three films appear in brief scenes, without showing their powers and only serving to facilitate Po's use of his powers. Several new villains appear in the film, playing a role in opening up a new story in the fifth film.

Chameleon's appearance in "Kung Fu Panda 4". Photo: DreamWorks Animation

Although the script is superficial, the work leaves its mark in the graphic images and color composition. The scene where Chameleon lives, the roads Po and Zhen pass through are decorated with houses with ancient Chinese architecture. In the scene describing the life of underground animals, the artists built a dark atmosphere with many interconnected pipes.

In the fight scene between Po's side and the Grandma Pig's group (voiced by Lori Tan Chinn) at the restaurant, many martial arts scenes were beautifully designed by the special effects artists, with smooth motion effects. The construction of the Grandma Pig's restaurant scene on a cliff creates tension in the fighting scenes, when the house is tilted and can collapse at any time.

In addition to the panda Po, other characters contribute to the laughter of the film, such as three small but violent rabbits, Captain Fish (Ronny Chieng), an alcoholic who lives in the mouth of a pelican. Po's two fathers often argue but always help each other while looking for their son.

The animation quality of "Kung Fu Panda 4" remains the same as the previous three films. Photo: DreamWorks Animation

Domestically, the film earned more than VND54 billion in three days (March 8-10), becoming the animation project with the highest opening revenue at the Vietnamese box office. The work currently has more than VND95 billion, with the potential to reach VND100 billion in its third week in theaters, according to Box Office Vietnam .

On VnExpress , many viewers said that the film was not as attractive as the previous parts. According to some opinions, the film achieved high revenue because many people expected it, and at the same time, the previous films about the panda Po were all global box office hits. Reader Hong Tram said he did not like the dub because it contained many popular words, which did not feel natural.

International critics rated the film as average, with a 70% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes . ScreenRant commented that some details were redundant, typically the scene where Ping and Ly Son go on a journey to find their son, which did not help with character development. Variety said that the script was not as good as the previous parts, and commented that Jack Black's voiceover lacked enthusiasm and energy, and that the comedy in the film was ineffective.

A scene from the movie "Kung Fu Panda 4". Photo: DreamWorks Animation

Kung Fu Panda first debuted in 2008, immediately creating a fever with the humorous adventure and martial arts of the panda character Po. The film earned 631.7 million USD, received a series of nominations and film awards. In 2011, the second part continued to reap success with 665.7 million USD, according to Box Office Mojo . The first two parts of the series were both nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Animated Feature, with a total global revenue of about 1.3 billion USD.

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