Fun action, quick plot, and hilarious jokes

by Eric Rosen

Age:	5+	Retail Price: $29.99
Available at: Amazon.com

Po (the voice of Jack Black), the pudgy, slacker Panda who works in his family’s noodle shop is unexpectedly called on to fulfill an ancient prophecy and become the Dragon Warrior. With that, his dreams of becoming a kung fu master might just come true. He begins studying with the red panda Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Viper (Lucy Liu), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane David Cross), and Mantis (Seth Rogen), collectively known as the Furious Five. With his own special brand of kung fu, Po eventually fights against a Snow Leopard named Tai Lung (Ian McShane), who is threatening the Valley of Peace. The unlikely-hero story of Kung Fu Panda is about pursuing your dreams, even when they don’t conform to other’s opinions of you, and rising to your responsibilities when others are counting on you. The lessons are manifold and weighty (like Po), but lightened by the fun action, quick plot, and hilarious jokes.