Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda 4

Thinking about the Kung Fu Panda series has always made me smile. The action is fun, the humor is good, and it lampoons the martial arts obsession pushed onto modern kids by mainstream media. The exceptional part is that it explores important themes like perseverance, body shaming, self-authenticity, and the power of positive thought. Every villain is consumed by insecurity and pride, and their defeat is always heralded by a failure to rise above these unworthy but very human feelings. Kung Fu Panda 4 comes off a bit ham-handed at the start, but much like Cars 3, it is all about aging gracefully and passing the torch.