Does the Dream Work?

The loveable Po hit the big screen again on March 8 in “Kung Fu Panda 4,” eight years after the release of its predecessor. Although the reviews have not been bad, they are relatively low for the “Kung Fu Panda” franchise, receiving an average rating of 6.5/10 on IMDb; this stands in stark contrast to the other three films, which never received below a 7/10. Many fans blame this downgrade on the loss of the Furious Five, a famous group of highly skilled kung fu fighters trained by Master Shifu, each with their own speciality. The interactions between Po and the five were some of the best parts of the old films and attracted watchers due to the star-studded cast including actress Angelina Jolie, the voice of Tigress. Po’s entire journey started from looking up to the five for their kung fu abilities, so their absence makes the film feel lackluster without the support and depth they provide. The loss of these characters can be attributed to the smaller budget  of $85 million compared to the first three being closer to $150 million, placing these famous actors out of their budget. All three of the previous movies are known for their trailers not doing the films justice, but it seems as though this phenomenon does not apply to “Kung Fu Panda 4,” which takes a low budget-induced blow. Fans are entering theaters with relatively low expectations due to these changes, but junior Taiyo Bethel remains excited, with high hopes nonetheless.

“Due to the lack of the Fantastic Five, there will be less watchers from the older movies,” Bethel said. “However, the changed cast will set up a new fanbase for the next generation, especially with the return of the old villains that will make an already good movie into a classic. Also, the addition of the sly character Zhen will create excitement for the audience, while showing Po in a different light as he learns to understand Zhen on a deeper level.”

Despite the removal of the Furious Five, “Kung Fu Panda 4” still brought back old characters central to the plot, including Tai Lung, Lord Shen and Master Shifu. In the new movie, Po is asked to find a successor that he can pass his wisdom onto as he comes closer to retirement. He leaves the Valley of Peace to go to Gongman City, where he is going to face a new villain, The Chameleon, while also coming in contact with Tai Lung and Lord Shen. The main antagonist, The Chameleon, voiced by Viola Davis, is Po’s biggest challenge yet. The storyline is interesting due to her similarity to Po; they were underestimated as fighters in their beginnings, but both came to be incredibly powerful. This villain finds a way to harness the skills and powers of all the old villains that Po has defeated, creating the ultimate opponent. Even though fans were very excited about the return of the villains, this became a negative aspect for some after seeing the film, leaving people disappointed that the directors did not do as much with the storyline as they could have. There was a lot of debate behind the scenes regarding how they should have executed the return of Tai Lung. Co-director, Stephanie Stein spoke about her vision of staying true to the prior films by having a Tai Lung and Shifu reunion, so they could have an emotional moment and chance to say goodbye. Although the executives loved her idea, it was rejected by the main director, Mike Mitchell, and fans were disheartened. Freshman Christopher Delacruz is disappointed knowing what the movie could have been. 

“No one heard about this new movie because it was not good,” Delacruz said. “The only reason I stumbled upon it was from TikTok discourse. From the clips I saw, the Tai Lung and Shifu screen time did not make sense because it felt like a wasted opportunity since not much was done with the storyline. They should have ended on a good note with the third movie; this [new movie] was just forgettable.” 

As a Dreamworks top-tier franchise, the marketing for the movie was lackadaisical to say the least, with many arguing that that the movie is just cashing in on nostalgia to bait old fans. There was a time that a new “Kung Fu Panda” movie would be a highly-anticipated event for families, and yet there has not been much excitement surrounding the fourth sequel. Following the trailer’s release, fans expected more, but then were left underwhelmed. It contains a predictable plot that does not leave its comfort zone, similar to the other movies, but lacks energy and style. The general public will likely remain satisfied, but die-hard fans are feeling slightly disappointed, knowing what it could have been. Junior Robert Michael has a different perspective, and is excited to re-experience the nostalgia without worrying too much about the details.

“The budget cuts will definitely turn some fans away, especially with the loss of some actors,” Michael said. “But I think that the new movie coming out after [years] will bring back fans of the originals. I have been following [the franchise] since I was little and [regardless of the reviews], it will be a fun watch being a nostalgic movie that played such a big role in my childhood. What drew me to [these] films was all the fun, different plotlines, the humor, the voice actors and the meaningful themes it contains, so I do not expect disappointment from this new movie.”