Kung Fu Panda

Jul 4 2008 The Journal

(1hr 32mins) Starring: The voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane. Director: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson

MARK Osborne and John Stevenson’s computer animated comedy does exactly what it says on the tin, spinning a familiar story of triumph against the odds around a rotund bear with a passion for martial arts.

Jack Black is perfectly cast as the voice of the eponymous guzzler, with a love, but no ability, for kung fu and who dreams of being a warrior.

Big is beautiful in this film, the best family-orientated offering from DreamWorks Animation since box office smash Shrek.

Po, who to everyone’s amazement, is anointed the next Dragon Warrior who must protect the village from the threat of an escaped prisoner, is the answer for parents who need to keep their charges amused this weekend. The film wins us over with its fantastic animation.