Kung Fu Panda 3 2016

Christy Lemire, ChristyLemire.com: So vividly immersive is Kung Fu Panda 3 - so vibrant, so tactile - it will make you feel as if you've stepped into a fully realized world. And then once you've stepped out, you'll be craving dumplings. Read more

Bill Zwecker, Chicago Sun-Times: I think the secret to the appeal of the entire Kung Fu Panda franchise is the enormous affection we feel for Po, that seemingly bumbling good guy who also can rise to the occasion and showcase true heroism and mystical power. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: The stunning visuals surpass the high standards set by its predecessors, but storywise, it breaks no new ground. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, TIME Magazine: Mostly, Kung Fu Panda 3 is just fun. Read more

Justin Chang, Variety: A winning lightness of touch prevails in this delightful continuation of the durable DreamWorks franchise. Read more

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, AV Club: Kung Fu Panda 3 is often inspired as animation, and tired as everything else. Read more

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: The "Kung Fu Panda" formula works, still, and if directors Alessandro Carloni and Jennifer Yuh don't reinvent the panda-as-martial-artist wheel, they avoid making the story seem stale. Read more

Tom Russo, Boston Globe: The whole fightin'-bear jamboree is agreeable enough, but it takes some of the spotlight away from Black being Black, and doesn't jibe with messages about having a sense of self, of what makes you you. Read more

Maricar Estrella, Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com: The main reason families enjoy the series is Po, thanks to Jack Black's frenetic and friendly approach. There's just enough huggable and HiYa! moments to keep the animated film's core audience chomping on their popcorn and glued to the screen. Read more

Christian Holub, Entertainment Weekly: Just complicated enough to reward steady viewers and just simple enough for parent escorts to enjoy without much prior knowledge. Read more

Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter: Refuses to panda to the lowest common denominator. Read more

Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: Writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger ... unfurl the narrative with buoyant clarity, gentle charm and much endearing (read: sweetly hokey) humor. The tale's "be yourself" mantra, though nothing new, is also well used. Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: Another successful entry in this dependably smart and well-crafted franchise for kids. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: [It's] mostly like those dishes at my old Chinese buffet - stretched thin, badly reheated and really, best taken in very small quantities. Read more

Katherine Pushkar, New York Daily News: Unfortunately, looks aren't everything. The plot is plodding and predictable. Read more

Neil Genzlinger, New York Times: Lots of comedic fight scenes break up the story's more somber stretches, and the animation, especially in 3-D, is simply gorgeous. Read more

Tirdad Derakhshani, Philadelphia Inquirer: It's easy to mistake the simplicity of plot and theme here for simple-mindedness - this isn't Pynchon or Proust. Kung Fu Panda 3 has the economy of a Zen koan, not to mention its inner harmony and wisdom. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Kids, especially those who enjoyed the previous Kung Fu Panda movies, will appreciate what the third movie has to offer. Read more

Soren Anderson, Seattle Times: It's gloriously colorful, very funny and, better yet, unexpectedly substantive and genuinely moving. Read more

Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle: "Kung Fu Panda 3" has a moment or two for everyone, but no chance develop any character beyond a single dimension. The next scene has often arrived before the viewer can process the last one. Read more

Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press: Like a well-made dumpling, it's not too heavy but not too light, has the right amount of spice, and leaves one with some appetite for the next time. Read more

Kate Taylor, Globe and Mail: The animation is still strong - there are some interesting and refreshingly uncuddly depictions of the spirit world from whence Kai springs - but, mainly, KFP3 is too much of a good thing. Read more

Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: Black and white and fun all over, Kung Fu Panda 3 achieves best-of-franchise status with a story that goes deeper than typical kid fare, wrapped in beautifully crafted animation. Read more

Alonso Duralde, TheWrap: Between the witty screenplay, delightful visuals that jump back and forth between 3-D and 2-D animation, and a consistently game voice cast, this third serving never feels like a dull retread or a lazy cash grab. Read more

Anna King, Time Out: The new sequel lacks the tear-jerking revelations and darker edge that characterized its predecessor. Visually though, it's a candy-colored 3-D treat, from the exquisite sunset that shimmers over the panda enclave to the psychedelia of the spirit world. Read more

Liz Braun, Toronto Sun: Waaaaay too talky and overcomplicated. Read more

Brian Truitt, USA Today: While it lacks the wonder and nuance of earlier Pandas, there are enough new faces and wowing, Asian-influenced style to also keep parents amused for an hour and a half. Read more

Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice: In studio movies, especially for children, all it takes to be great at something difficult is a good heart and a training montage. Go on, America, keep yelling at Common Core while parking your kids in front of this stuff. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: In Hollywood's franchise game, sequels are seldom the best they can be. This one isn't, but it's pretty, perfectly pleasant and good enough. Read more

Sandie Angulo Chen, Washington Post: The directors ... make sure to let Po stay the charming bumbler he's always been. That's what makes him such an earnest, lovable hero. Read more