Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Kung Fu Panda 4 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"Every step leaves a footprint, no matter how small."

Reviewed by Justin Dekker May 30, 2024

DreamWorks' 'Kung Fu Panda 4' arrives on 4K UHD courtesy of Universal. As usual the film features an impressive cast of actors including Jack Black (Po), Awkwafina (Zhen), Dustin Hoffman (Shifu), Viola Davis (The Chameleon), and the legendary James Hong (Mr. Ping). Telling the next chapter of Po's story, this rowdy and heartfelt tale sees Po working with an outsider as he works to protect the Valley of Peace and wrestles with passing on the mantle of the Dragon Warrior. Equipped with stunning a stunning 4K transfer and an equally impressive Dolby Atmos track, the disc is also loaded with an array of special features for viewers of all ages. This release comes with a Blu-ray disc, a Digital Code, and an embossed slipcover.

There comes a time in many martial arts movies and franchises where the students and/or masters must transition to new roles. Po (Jack Black, School of Rock) did this in 2008's Kung Fu Panda as he went through arduous training and faced the sinister Tai Lung (Ian McShane , Deadwood) to become the Dragon Warrior. Now the time has come yet again for Po to move on to a role as Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman, Tootsie) tells him he must choose a new Dragon Warrior so that he can become the next spiritual leader for the Valley of Peace. At the conclusion of a contest of champions that is highly reminiscent of the one featured at the start of the first film, Po demonstrates his reluctance to embrace the required change as he selects himself to again be the Dragon Warrior to the obvious frustration of Master Shifu but to the delight of the adoring crowd. Later, after an encounter with a larcenous corsac fox named Zhen (Awkwafina, Crazy Rich Asians), Po learns that Tai Lung has somehow returned from the Spirit Realm. Zhen states that a sorceress known as The Chameleon is to blame and agrees to help him track the villain down in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. The Chameleon's (Viola Davis, The Help, Doubt) plan, it seems, is to absorb the signature moves from a great number of imprisoned evil kung fu masters in a bid to rule the known world. Only these two unlikely heroes stand in her way.

Any movie of this nature is only as good as it's villain, and with Viola Davis providing the voice and personality for The Chameleon in Kung Fu Panda 4, Po couldn't ask for a better adversary. Like a scene ripped from any of a number of gangster movies, The Chameleon holds court over an assembly of the crime bosses of Juniper City, demanding that they increase their monthly tribute to her so that she can achieve her vision. Upon encountering some resistance, she dramatically and ruthlessly changes shape from her normal diminutive form to that of an enormous elephant as she reminds her minions exactly who is in charge and what happens to dissenters. As a PG-rated family film, the scene isn't particularly vicious, but it is an effective introduction to the character, offering another layer of the film for seasoned filmgoers to appreciate while providing an understanding of her powers. Had the focus of the film not been so clearly on the relationship between Po and Zhen, her shape-changing and sorcery could have been exploited for greater story complexity and drama, but as it stands it's leveraged just enough for her to be a formidable foe.

From the moment that Zhen appears on the screen, she rarely leaves it. As expected, Awkwafina's effervescent personality shines though in her portrayal of a fox from the wrong side of the tracks. Her appetite and skill at thievery match Po's own appetite for and ability to pack away massive quantities of dumplings (or whatever else happens to be around). Having Zhen as his de facto ward or mentee allows the audience to see Po in a different light for the first time in the series. It's a welcome plot wrinkle and logical progression for his character. He can't simply be the comic relief in this outing and must instead impart wisdom to Zhen as well as provide a motivation for her to change her ways. This isn't to say that Black provides Po with a serious, stoic, or staid performance. To do so would be a shameful waste of his singular talents and a betrayal of the character up to this point. Quite on the contrary, Jack Black's portrayal of Po is as energetic, joyful, juvenile, and funny as ever, with these integral elements of Po's personality coloring and defining this added element of his character's role. As his work from other projects and the behind-the- scenes footage included here confirm, his performance in this film is still very much Jack Black being the quintessential Jack Black without the limitations of the real world to hold him back. Happily, for all of his experience playing the role and his incredible presence, Awkwafina meets him where he is in every instance, making hers a character that should be included in future installments of the franchise.

Thankfully, the Furious Five (Monkey, Manits, Tiger, Crane, and Viper) are largely absent here. While their presence was much more essential in the earlier outings, here there simply isn't room or oxygen left for them in this largely personal story helmed by two loquacious comedic actors. Their presence would have prevented the audience from seeing Po as a master who has earned the right to move on from his role as the Dragon Warrior and would have stymied Zhen's ability to connect with and be influenced by Po in any meaningful way. Fans of the Five shouldn't be too alarmed, however, as even there abbreviated presence here should serve as an indication that they are still a meaningful part of the Pandaverse and could return in a yet-to-be-confirmed fifth installment or in a feature of their own.

Kung Fu Panda 4 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kung Fu Panda 4 4K has received an undeniably impressive HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer. The film's depth and dimensionality are inspiring as we get long shots of Po overlooking the mountains and valleys on his way to find The Chameleon. Detail levels are exceptional with an amazing amount of wood grain and texture on display in Juniper City's numerous wooden structures, doors, trim pieces, and tools. In a world populated by animals, furs of various lengths, textures, and colors are also an omnipresent treat, presenting with amazing realism, volume, and fluid movement. Colors are richly and luxuriously saturated, particularly in the Dolby Vision grade. Primaries, like the red in Po's cape and the green in the Staff of Wisdom pop aggressively, with densely populated crowd and village scenes typically being riots of color and texture. Black levels are inky and deep but do not crush detail. Likewise, The Chameleon's scales and their textures are surprisingly tactile. Environmental particulars are also universally depicted with a high degree of detail, with textures on stonework, work, chipped paint, and other elements of wear and use providing the various settings with added realism and an authentic "lived-in" look. It's reference-quality work.

Please note that all accompanying screenshots are sourced from the included 1080p disc.

Kung Fu Panda 4 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Kung Fu Panda 4 4K's English Dolby Atmos audio track is incredibly and instantly immersive, keeping the viewer in the middle of the action at virtually all times. Whether in the midst of a fight, in the middle of a crowded village, or in more subtle moments where atmospheric music underscores discussions, the sound effects, dialogue, and music envelope and only occasionally delightfully overwhelm. Lusciously cavernous echoes and swirling magical effects further demonstrate the finesse and precision of the track. Directionality is exhibited to great effect and is heavily leveraged as sounds move with excellent fluidity through the sound field. Bass is weighty and powerful, adding depth and realism to concussive sound effects like the closing of massive doors, thunderous kicks and punches, and crashes of all sorts. Music is excellently rendered with the reimagined "Crazy Train" being an unexpected highlight as Zhen and Po make a chaotic trip through Juniper Citiy's highly varied and maze-like cityscape. That scene in particular is as much a treat for the eye as it is for the ear. English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles are also available.

Kung Fu Panda 4 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Kung Fu Panda 4 4K is loaded with a host of on-disc special features including:

• 'Dueling Dumplings' Exclusive Short with intro by Jack Black and Awkwafina (3.13) - A brief, friendly, and comedic battle between Po and Zhen to determine which dumpling is better.

• Deleted Scenes (1.51) - Two scenes are included as storyboard drawings with an audio track from the voice talent: "Dads in the Trail" and "Mahjong"

• Kung Fu Talking (2.26) - A short collection of behind-the-scenes moments featuring the voice talent during the recording process.

• Meet the Cast (13.46) - Cast members and filmmakers discuss returning and new characters for the film comprised of four segments: "Po", "Zhen", "The Chameleon", and "The Dads".

• Kung Fu Panda 4 All! (8.05) - Director Mike Mitchell, Jack Black (Po), and others discuss the new chapter's story, new characters, the voice cast, and the design process, accompanied by an assortment of storyboards, animation tests, and clips from the film.

• Mastering the Dumpling (6.16) - Jack Black (Po) learns how to make traditional pan-fried pork and cabbage dumplings using pre-made dumpling skins with Helen Wu and Philip Wang.

• How to Draw (25.03) - The artistically inclined will appreciate DreamWorks animation artists' guidance on how to draw Po, Zhen, The Chameleon, and The Bad Bunnies.

• Shadow Puppet Theater (8.06) - Using supplies from around the house, learn how to make a shadow puppet theater and puppets.

• Feature Commentary from the Filmmakers - Director Mike Mitchell, Co-Director Stephanie Ma Stine, Production Designer Paul Duncan, Head of Story Calvin Tsang, and Head of Character Animation Sean Sexton share a wealth of information in the very busy and lively commentary track. They discuss the voice cast, film references and nods, changes from test screenings, the impact of storyboarding, the origin of various story elements and jokes, and ideas for a potential sequel among many other subjects. Never dull or quiet, their enthusiasm for the project is obvious and infectious.

Kung Fu Panda 4 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Arriving some 16 years after the original Kung Fu Panda and impressively retaining critical members of the voice cast including Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, and James Hong, Kung Fu Panda 4 is a more than worthy sequel. Providing enough callbacks to memorable set pieces and characters from the original and the previous sequels while providing a logical progression of Po's story arc, this new chapter opens the door to a host of options for future installments in the franchise. Jack Black's performance as Po has not lost any of its energy, attitude, and sense of fun, and Awkwafina is more than capable of holding her own in the high volume of scenes she shares with him. The pair have excellent comedic timing and instincts in this charming tale that is sure to delight fans of the series and newcomers alike. The 4K presentation is stunning, as is the Dolby Atmos track, and the mix of special features has something to appeal to a wide spectrum of viewers. Kung Fu Panda 4 4K comes Highly Recommended.