Kung Fu Panda 2 delivers an abundance of visual gags and physical comedy, though many feel familiar by now. The characters engage in a great deal more kung fu action than they did in the first movie, with the Furious Five repeatedly striking down Shen’s wolf army. Master Shifu's staff appears at just-right moments during the final fight, and there are numerous animal characters using martial arts skills. It definitely feels like an animated film centered on martial arts, something the original was lacking. However, despite DreamWorks' attempts to continue Po’s journey toward becoming the Dragon Warrior, it doesn’t improve upon what came before. The movie remains trapped by family-friendly humor that undermines the visual appeal and narrative depth needed for meaningful progression. Po discovers his true parents (they aren't geese!), and must work with the Furious Five to protect China from Shen, a peacock obsessed with weaponry. DreamWorks releases animated films aimed at families with positive messages every year. This sequel explores how our childhood experiences can shape who we become, suggesting Po should overlook the pain caused by Shen’s actions, which stemmed from his own abandonment. It's a lesson worth learning, but it gets lost amidst too much comedy that detracts from several poignant scenes. Except for the captivating sequence where Po learns about his parents—presented through beautifully animated flashbacks—most of the emotional moments are overshadowed by Po's clumsy antics. Jack Black’s voice acting doesn’t help; it lacks sincerity, and the fast pace and hurried action sequences make the central story frustrating to follow. It isn't a bad movie, in fact, its quality is comparable to the first one. What’s disappointing is that promising themes are stifled—like seeds unable to grow into strong stalks of bamboo. While the humor does help develop the characters, especially Po, it makes the film very accessible for families. The action scenes were impressive and full of vibrant color, with some clever editing making one chase resemble ‘Pac-Man.’ The oriental settings create a welcoming world for the characters. Shen is more memorable and menacing than...ummm…I can’t recall his name—the snow leopard? Let's go with that! Mostly because Oldman’s voice work has a wider range than anything else he’s done (and that’s quite an achievement!). The red and black lighting, used to represent “evil,” was occasionally excessive and made it hard to see at times. Despite these issues, Kung Fu Panda 2 is enjoyable, with plenty of action. It also sets up the third film nicely, so I suppose I'll have to watch that too...

Source on TMDB