The latest installation of “Kung Fu Panda” dropped on Mar. 8, hitting the theaters as a feel-good, comedic adventure. 

Unlike many sequels, the storyline was functional and interesting. Po, played by Jack Black, is tasked with finding a new Dragon Warrior to train. He is joined by an additional star-studded cast of voice actors, complete with Awkwafina as the new main character Zhen and Viola Davis as the shape-shifting villain Cameleonul. 

However, the shape-shifting element may have upset the audience as it made it seem like past villain Tai Lung will reappear, but it was just this new shape-shifting villain. An additional disappointment was the lack of the Furious Five. Mere references may not have been satisfactory for big fans of the crew. However, the storyline was still extremely engaging with dynamic characters. 

The soundtrack was calm, hopeful, and beautiful with classic Hans Zimmer compositions. The setting in China stood out here in an awesome, cultural way.

While the storyline may not have been as advanced as the past “Kung Fu Panda” movies, it had the same overarching, motivational themes and feel-good takeaways. Although I may not be in the target age group for animated movies, I found the trademark zen proverbs and universal life lessons caused me to reflect on my life, slow down, and enjoy the present moment. Due to these ideas, I walked away from the theater feeling joyful and hopeful about life, no matter the unknowns and upcoming changes of the future.

Overall, the movie was short but sweet, clocking in at just over 90 minutes. It was nicely paced, allowing the audience to get to know and love the characters, while also providing the opportunity for the characters to grow and develop. There were small plot twists throughout, keeping viewers engaged and on their toes. For these reasons, I rate the movie a 7.5/10. It was definitely a feel-good movie that I recommend for all fans of the franchise.