--- title: "Kung Fu Panda: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/kung-fu-panda/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/kung-fu-panda" critics_score: 66 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Kung Fu Panda (2008): what the critics said Critics' score 66 from 15 reviews: 6 positive, 8 mixed, 1 negative. The reviews lean towards qualified approval, with praise concentrated on the animation and martial-arts sequences rather than the story. Most critics find the fights lively and inventive, and even less enthusiastic assessments admire the detailed scenery and colourful imagery. Jack Black’s performance as Po also draws praise for making the familiar underdog appealing. For the warmer reviews, the humour and energetic action make this an enjoyable family adventure despite its predictable plot. Reservations centre on thin characters, broad comedy and a script that follows familiar formulas. The spread is fairly wide, though mixed assessments outnumber enthusiastic ones. Variety offers the clearest dissent, finding little comic inspiration or character depth to match the sophisticated visuals. The Skinny takes the opposing view, praising the script as well as the animation for making the characters engaging; elsewhere, even several admirers concede that the storytelling is flimsy. ## Empire — Chris Hewitt Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2006. Hewitt considers it DreamWorks Animation’s finest effort since the first Shrek, despite a rudimentary plot and merely decent gags. He especially praises the astonishing visuals and exhilarating kung fu sequences. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/kung-fu-panda-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 May 2009. Festival review. Honeycutt finds the film funny, frantic, and broadly appealing. He especially praises its vivid animation and the lively martial-arts action. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/kung-fu-panda-review-93156/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. No specific praise or complaint is available from the page text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/kung-fu-panda-2008) ## The Guardian — Mark Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2008. Kermode finds the film affable, slick family entertainment, though its script is baggy and it lacks the staying power of the Shrek series. He praises its unexpectedly plentiful, innocuous laughs. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/nov/16/narnia-kug-fu-panda-review) ## Screen Daily — Allan Hunter Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 15 May 2008. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It also does not show what the critic singled out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/kung-fu-panda/4038856.article) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2.5/4. 5 June 2008. Schager finds the film watchably innocuous but narratively meager and overly reliant on familiar formulas. He praises the lively, well-animated action, especially the chopstick battle between Po and Shifu. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/kung-fu-panda/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 3/5. Jones gives the animated adventure a positive assessment, highlighting its visually arresting animation. He also praises how the filmmakers use slow motion and freeze frames to enliven familiar martial-arts action conventions. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-zakqu1/kung-fu-panda/) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 3/5. 1 July 2008. The review gives the film a qualified verdict, suggesting its premise feels committee-designed. It singles out the plot’s extrapolation from the title as a complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/kung-fu-panda) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film entertaining but dramatically thin, with a story that gives way to predictable fights. They praise the beautifully animated, humorous kung fu battles and the film’s vivid imagery. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/kung-fu-panda-defies-expectations-7407788.html) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 15 May 2008. Festival review. McCarthy finds the film heavily formulaic and only mildly effective overall. He praises its sophisticated, detailed visuals, while faulting the script’s elementary characters and lack of comic inspiration. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/kung-fu-panda-4-1200522438/) ## Den of Geek — Ron Hogan Rating 4/5. 11 June 2008. Hogan finds the film a brisk, refreshing, and respectful animated take on kung fu, despite its flimsy and predictable plot. He praises the fluid fight scenes, striking scenery, and expressive voice performances. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/kung-fu-panda-review/) ## Eye for Film — Tony Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2008. Sullivan calls it a thoroughly enjoyable, funny family adventure. He praises Jack Black’s performance as Po and the film’s good-humoured take on its familiar underdog story. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/kung-fu-panda-film-review-by-tony-sullivan) ## The Skinny — Kevin McHugh Rating ★★★★. 10 November 2008. McHugh calls it a terrifically fun film that entertains both adults and children. He praises the script and animation, which help make the characters appealing and the world convincing. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/dvd-reviews/kung-fu-panda) ## Paste — Josh Jackson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 2008. Jackson finds the film enjoyable, especially as a family-friendly Jack Black kung fu movie. He singles out the animated fight scenes and the silly, endearing panda for appeal. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/jack-black/kung-fu-panda) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 2008. The review finds the film enjoyable but too familiar and underdeveloped to match Pixar’s best. It praises the colourful scenery and punchy action, while criticising the thin supporting characters and broad comedy. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a105713/kung-fu-panda/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/kung-fu-panda.md