Movie review: Kung Fu Panda 2: Kaboom of Doom

Kung Fu Panda 2: Kaboom of Doom
(PG), 105 minutes
Stars: 3/5
Isn't Po (Jack Black) one of the most delightful animated creatures to ever grace the big screen?
It isn't every day that an overweight panda with a goose for a father becomes the supreme kung fu master of the world.
But that is just what happened to Po three years ago in the original Kung Fu Panda.
Time hasn't done much to help Po's cuddly physique but he is still head man when it come to fighting villains who want to take over China.
With the help of the Furious Five, his fellow kung fu masters, no one should dare threaten peace in the country.
Of course, they aren't aware that the evil Lord Shen (Gary Oldman) has other plans and is putting together a weapon that will allow him to rule over everyone.
Using fireworks, he has produced cannons that command fear and respect from villagers.
Lord Shen vows to end kung fu forever with his weapons.
Po is a little disturbed by Lord Shen's presence in his world and starts having flashbacks to his childhood, and the mysterious abandonment by his birth parents.
Po seeks answers from his new father, the delightful Mr Ping (James Hong), and anyone who can help him in his search for an understanding of who he is.
Lord Shen seems to have some of those answers, so Po is double determined to get close to the creature before he defeats him.
Produced in both 2D and 3D versions, Kung Fu Panda 2 has more of the exciting fight sequences we loved last time and more than your money's worth of action scenes.
And, as you'd expect with a creature like Po, there is also some gentle humour throughout that all ages will enjoy.
The real appeal of this movie comes in some of the lovely life lessons that are infused throughout.
Young children watching Po's adventures don't realise that are also learning about good moral values as they watch him go about his heroic business.