Kung Fu PandaMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Kung Fu Panda."

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Avg. Critic Score: 73 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
6 OK for kids 6+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 91
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    Light and goofy, yet the fight scenes, which are the heart of the film, are lickety-split mad fun. Read full review

  • 90
    The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt

    The stroke of genius is, of course, the film's hero -- the big, lovable bear that is the Chinese panda. Read full review

  • 90
    Washington Post |

    Infectious and inspiring, despite one's best efforts to resist its charms. Read full review

  • 90
    The New York Times | Manohla Dargis

    At once fuzzy-wuzzy and industrial strength, the tacky-sounding Kung Fu Panda is high concept with a heart. Read full review

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Not one of the great recent animated films. The story is way too predictable, and truth to tell, Po himself didn't overwhelm me with his charisma. But it's elegantly drawn, the action sequences are packed with energy, and it's short enough that older viewers will be forgiving. Read full review

  • 75
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is probably the best movie so far this year about a kung-fu fighting panda. Read full review

  • 70
    Los Angeles Times | Carina Chocano

    The action, heavily influenced by Hong Kong martial arts films, is beautifully choreographed. Read full review

  • 70
    Wall Street Journal | Joe Morgenstern

    The essence of the film is slapsticky, chopsocky action, rendered with great verve and accompanied by bromides having to do with the need to believe. Read full review

  • 50
    Variety | Todd McCarthy

    A nice looking but heavily formulaic DreamWorks animation entry. Read full review

  • 50
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Though occasionally visually inventive, Kung Fu Panda is a disappointment when it comes to matters of simple black and white: the script. Read full review

View more reviews for Kung Fu Panda on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 6+ Appealing kid-friendly comedy; some scary scenes.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that kids will definitely want to see this heavily promoted (including McDonald's Happy Meals) animated film -- which stars kid fave Jack Black as the voice of the main character, Po. And its humor and heartwarming story will appeal to grown-ups, too. The movie boasts positive messages about being who you are and believing in yourself, but it is martial arts-themed, so expect plenty of fast-paced battle scenes with kicks, punches, falls, and more. Even though they're animated, some sequences -- especially the one in which intimidating villain Tai Lung escapes from prison -- may be a little too scary for kindergartners and younger. Families who buy this on DVD as the "Pandamonium Double Pack" are also getting a cartoon short called Secrets of the Furious Five. See our review.
  • Families can talk about Po's decision to follow his dreams and pursue martial arts greatness. Was he right? What makes Po different from the other heroes in the movie? What do they learn from him? And what does Po's ease with himself teach young viewers? What makes him such a great kung fu warrior?
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages: Po discovers that there's no secret ingredient to greatness -- you just have to be yourself. This positive theme resonates throughout the film. The issue of eating as a coping mechanism is raised (Po has to unlearn that habit).
  • rolemodels true3 Positive role models: Po also has a good attitude in general, taking the Furious Five's initial chilliness in stride and ultimately giving his all to his training. Bad guy Tai Lung is a total bully -- but flashbacks soften his character slightly.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence and scariness: Not surprisingly, there's lots of martial arts action -- expect tons of high-flying clashes that include punches, kicks, falls, and more. That said, the fights are generally more thrilling than frightening, though they could upset kids 5 and under -- particularly the sequence in which villain Tai Lung breaks out of a maximum security prison.
  • sex false0 Sexy stuff: Not an issue
  • language false0 Language: Fairly clean, though the word "suck" is used prominently, and insults are hurled at Po by nearly everyone.
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Lots of mentions of the fictional martial arts movies that the Furious Five and other kung fu masters were in. The movie also has many promotional tie-ins.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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