O Panda do Kung Fu 4

The film is a good time, and it doesn't exactly betray any of Kung Fu Panda's strengths, but it also exhibits the telltale signs of a series struggling to justify its existence.

The series' first new installment in eight years is a reliably funny, sweet and wonderfully realized passing of the torch, with a paw in the past and another into the future -- an elegant goodbye and a hello.

The balance between action and humor is just right, with a very funny bulls in a china shop moment and a precariously balanced tavern. And Po is, as always, an appealing hero, always on the side of helping others but still with more to learn.

This iteration of "Panda" appealingly wears its heart on its paw. And that's sufficient reason for families to choose it over a lot of other animated schlock out there.

Jack Black keeps the fists and giggles flying in a sequel that's more hustle than heart.

It lacks both the delicate artistry and warm wit of its predecessors.

Although this escapade is now part of the perky protagonist's "legendary tales of awesomeness," it's one that's best left forgotten.

Granted, there's only so much that can be done at this point with this kind of concept beyond recycling it, but director Mike Mitchell keeps the story moving even during the relatively flat exposition.

The latest installment of this DreamWorks Animation franchise offers visual and kinetic pleasure, but not a whole lot more.

For its first return in eight years, directors Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Stine, a trio of credited screenwriters and a vast army of technical specialists have recalibrated the Panda format.

Sure, the kids will giggle, and the animation is well-executed (even if there does seem to be something a little off around the eyes in this version of Po) but it just doesn't land with that same ebullient skadoosh.

We do get lessons in teamwork, patience and inner peace, but a flimsy story and a weak villain don't do Po - the big-hearted, Jack Black-voiced, dumpling-loving giant panda at the center of the saga - any favors.

Black and Awkwafina and Hoffman do their jobs, but the jokes have a way of arriving like jokes, and sounding like jokes, but not quite being jokes. This is an action movie foremost, which is fine. Or rather, OK-fairly good.

This is an enjoyable "Kung Fu Panda" movie, even if it's missing some of the pizazz of the earlier ones.

I enjoyed the first three adventures of the Dragon Warrior, but the best thing he can do now is to give this series a much needed skadoosh, sending it to rest in the cinematic spirit realm.

This is an enjoyably winning continuation of Po's story.

This dumpling is a little too light on the filling.

After letting loose a little, Kung Fu Panda 4 is a fun trip down memory lane, hearkening back on the glory that propelled the treasured panda Po, voiced charmingly as ever by Jack Black, into our hearts.

I would like for it to have built the story a little bit more than it does. It is fun. It is gorgeous to look at.

If the script was sharper or funnier and if the gags were better maybe you wouldn't notice, but it does feel like a lot of it is a bunch of people in recording booths doing some schtick and them animating around it.