Today’s quick review: Kung Fu Panda 3. When Kai (J.K. Simmons) escapes from the Spirit Realm and begins harvesting the chi of kung fu masters across China, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) and the Furious Five (Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Seth Rogen, and Jackie Chan) set out to stop him. But their best hope lies with Po (Jack Black), who embarks on a journey with his long-lost father Li (Bryan Cranston) to learn how to use chi.
Kung Fu Panda 3 is a family animated martial arts action comedy. Po and the Furious Five face their greatest adversary yet: an ancient master with mystic powers the likes of which none of them have ever seen. Kung Fu Panda 3 continues the series’ tradition of larger-than-life action, light comedy, and stories about family and friendship. In spite of a far-fetched premise, strong action and solid craftsmanship make it a worthy sequel.
Kung Fu Panda 3 introduces explicit fantasy elements to the series. The Spirit Realm, the mystic force known as chi, and a fighting force of jade zombies join the usual martial arts acrobatics and destruction. Apart from a slight shift in the rules of the setting, the fantasy elements fit well, powering a new batch of impressive action scenes and giving the movie a chance to show off its new special effects.
As far as story goes, Kung Fu Panda 3 fits in comfortably with its predecessors. Po faces two new personal challenges: reconnecting with his birth father and learning to teach kung fu, not just practice it. The writing is a shade more self-indulgent than the previous movies, but not enough to distract from an otherwise solid plot. And, crucially, it is still as fun as ever to watch Po stumble, learn, and grow.
Give Kung Fu Panda 3 a shot if you enjoyed either of the first two movies or are simply in the mood for some light, flashy action. The movie has a few quirks, including a greater reliance on fantasy and one or two bumps in its plot, but its strengths are more than enough to make up for them.
For Chinese-themed fantasy action with less of a focus on story, try The Great Wall. For much more violent martial arts action with a soul-stealing villain, try Mortal Kombat.
[7.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2267968/). I give it a 7.0 for gorgeous fantasy action and a satisfying plot.