Panda hero saves the day in thoughtful family film.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Plenty of hand-to-hand combat. The fight scenes are fast and furious, but hardly anybody seems to get injured. An important theme here is modernization, as the martial arts warriors must face off against an opponent who's armed with gunpowder and cannons. Scenes involving a baby Po being separated from his parent (and the parent's implied death) may upset some kids.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
No product placement within the film, but Kung Fu Panda spin-offs, video games, sequels, and tie-in merchandise all exist.
Positive Messages
a lot
Family is important, but it's not always defined by blood: The people who love and nurture you are also part of your family. Let go of outside expectations; instead, seek inner peace. Integrity, perseverance, and teamwork are also themes.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Po is a great example of someone who must learn to accept—and resolve—complicated relationships in his life. At first he refuses to acknowledge some hard truths, but through courage, teamwork, and humility, he's able to attain inner peace. Guided by his wise and patient mentor, Shifu, and surrounded by his Furious Five teammates, Po and the others depict a powerful tale of self-discovery.
Diverse Representations
some
Kung Fu Panda 2, like the original film, is mainly voiced by White actors, though the sequel does add Michelle Yeoh to its roster as Soothsayer. In addition, the previous film's White directors are replaced by Korean-born American Jennifer Yuh Nelson, the first Asian American to direct a major American animated film. The result achieves a balance of traditional Chinese elements (architecture, cuisine, etc.) with a modern flair. Elders are respected for their wisdom, and female characters have complicated inner struggles. Tigress gains depth in this installation. The discovery and acceptance of a nontraditional family unit is central to this film.
Meant to entertain rather than educate, but it offers positive lessons about friendship and teamwork.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Kung Fu Panda 2 is the sequel to 2008's hit animated film about an unlikely martial arts hero who returns to China to become a kung fu master. Po (again voiced by Jack Black) and the rest of his team, the Furious Five, must defeat a new villain who's armed with gunpowder and cannons. The movie's surprisingly poignant, sometimes serious story addresses the conflict between tradition and modernization, as well as Po's discovery of a long-hidden tragedy and his journey to accept an unusual upbringing. Not surprisingly, there's plenty of action—including explosions, swordfights, and lots of kung fu fisticuffs. Scenes involving parent-child separation could be upsetting for kids. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
what can i say? this movie is excellent. arguably, the best movie in the kung fu panda trilogy. i am now 17 and will be turning 18 in less than a week. i had the pleasure of growing up with the kung fu panda trilogy, and to this day, the second is still my absolute favorite. it creates a fresh and new story while still holding the magic of the first film. throughout this one we see lots of characters develop and change from the first to second movies, a great message, consistent character motives and actions, beautiful animation and character designs, and teaching those mastery of one’s self through a creative and metaphorical way. my favorite thing about this film is the villain, Lord Shen. although we never truly understand why he began his quest for power before his banishment, he is a vicious, ruthless, and the most realistic villain in the franchise. Shen’s genocide of the pandas stemmed out of fear (also proving Oogway’s point in the first film) is something real people do and have done. his attempted conquering of China being done with the advancement of technology (the cannons) to beat the kung fu masters is also more realistic, and his menacing image but in reality cowardly instincts are all what make Shen the most interesting villain in the series, and the most frightening realistic one. the teamwork of the furious five + Po, and the development in their friendship was the perfect pace for this film, and we cannot forget Master Shifu. Shifu’s character change made complete sense in this film. he is calm, wise, and strong. after the death of Tai Lung he was able to be the kung fu master he was always meant to be, and i was incredibly happy to see him finally obtain inner peace. as for Po, what can i say ? such a lovable protagonist. his growth throughout the film while staying true to his character is something hard to obtain when writing about trauma such as this. Po coming to terms with his past, identity, and purpose are all heavy topics placed on the audience which would not have been possible without an excellent writing team, animators, and Jack Black’s stellar performance. the dark elements in this story shape Po into who he truly is, and makes room for some very heartfelt moments that shed a tear or two. i could also go on and on about the animation of this film (literally pages long) but this review is already incredibly lengthy as it is. so, go watch this movie! you won’t be disappointed!
Katherine R.Parent of 10, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
June 22, 2024
age 9+
What's the Story?
In KUNG FU PANDA 2, Po (voiced by Jack Black), the giant panda who was unexpectedly tapped to become the Dragon Warrior in the original Kung Fu Panda, is now a well-trained martial arts hero who must defeat a powerful villain armed with an unstoppable secret weapon. Backed up by the Furious Five and his teacher, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), Po realizes that to defeat the evil Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), he must uncover a long-hidden secret about his own childhood and learn to attain inner peace. Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, David Cross, and Dustin Hoffman all reprise their roles as Po's comrades in this sequel.
This is one of the best sequels to grace the screen in a while. Kung Fu Panda 2 fully stands on its own, independent of its predecessor. Jumping ahead to show Po and the Furious Five as a well-trained unit, this installment takes a more serious tone, though it's still entertaining. Po yearns to discover and understand where he came from, and the movie makes a strong point that your past need not define you. Kung Fu Panda 2 has more heft and heart—a potent, sometimes profound combination. And while Po is the lovable lead, both Shifu and Tigress show that Po is not the only member of the Furious Five in need of looking inward. The film finds a masterful way to balance the whimsical with thrilling special effects, making it a joy to watch for all ages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about family and how it's portrayed in Kung Fu Panda 2. What do you think about Po's relationship with his dad? What are other kinds of family beyond biological bonds? Are there people in your life you consider family who might not be related to you by blood?
What does Po learn in this movie? How does that compare to what he learned in the first one?
Do you think the film paints an unrealistic picture of ancient traditions? Is it possible to stand in the way of progress?
MPAA explanation:
sequences of martial arts action and mild violence
Last updated:
July 18, 2024
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
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