DVD Review
'Kung Fu Panda' Two-Pack
'Kung Fu Panda'
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Ignore the PG rating: "Kung Fu Panda" is a great entry in the childrens' animated underdog genre. Sure, comedian Jack Black voices the title character (Po, a noodle-making panda who is thrust into greatness as a kung fu warrior), but the storyline and bright colors are good family fun. The CGI-animated film still looks great on the small screen, and after the credits roll, audiences will find plenty more excuses not to eject the disc.The second DVD in the two-pack, "Secrets of the Furious Five," is built around a half-hour short wherein Po tries to teach some bunnies the wisdom of kung fu with stories of how Tigress, Mantis, Monkey, Crane and Viper became masters. The animation is stylized and not as impressive as the main event, but the plot is amusing enough.
DVD Bonus Features:
The Good: The two-pack is liberally, well, packed with extras. Better, most of the extras involve spurring their young audiences to do something (learn to draw the characters, play games, save the wild panda) rather than just watching. Young and old viewers will love Alton Brown's feature on how to make noodles.
The Bad: Despite its PG rating, "Kung Fu Panda" is definitely targeted to the younger crowd. Few of the featurettes will appeal to adults, who will instead find them better used to distract the kiddies. And this may be nitpicky, but Jack Black's ultra-sarcastic delivery doesn't well serve the lessons behind "Secrets of the Furious Five." "Meet the Cast" comes off more as a commercial than a look behind the scenes.
The Price: $34.98
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