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KUNG FU PANDA 2Movie Reviews
Animated family comedy, and sequel, about a panda whose new warrior way of life is threatened by the emergence of a new villain who wants to conquer China and eradicate kung fu. Cast:Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie ChanDirector:Jennifer Yuh NelsonRelease Date:May 26, 2011DVD Release:December 13, 2011From:DreamworksRating:PGLength:1 hr. 31 min.
Kung Fu Panda 2 played to good reviews. • Roger Ebert wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times, "The animation is elegant, the story is much more involving than in the original, and there's boundless energy. I enjoyed it as fully as I possibly could, given the horror of its 3-D." • And Michael O'Sullivan called the film in the Washington Post, "...satisfying, if less than sensational..." More Reviews Below...
Kung Fu Panda 2 Positive Reviews (43 Reviews, reviews below)
Alynda Wheat, People: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...keeps the humor light even when the action is gritty.... should keep kids riveted while adults marvel at the artful 3-D effects."(See all of Alynda Wheat's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 93 words, 05/26/11
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: MODERATE(cg) "...the freshness and novelty that made the original film such a kick back in 2008 has been, well, kicked to bits.... feels overstuffed with plotlines and characters..."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 551 words, 05/26/11
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "...will tickle kids and engage their parents.... Angelina Jolie returns to kick more butt as Tigress, and Seth Rogen continues to delight as the wisecracking tiny green Mantis."(See all of Thelma Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 75 words, 05/26/11
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: EXCELLENT(cg) "It's not hard to see why children love Po, the rare animated hero who's awesome and ridiculous at the same moment.... a more-than-worthy sequel."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 242 words, 05/27/11
Scott Bowles, USA Today: VERY GOOD(cg) "...features some beautiful animation, and the story hums along as the Furious Five and the gleefully wicked Shen head for an inevitable clash."(See all of Scott Bowles's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 441 words, 05/26/11
Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The animation is elegant, the story is much more involving than in the original, and there's boundless energy. I enjoyed it as fully as I possibly could, given the horror of its 3-D."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 611 words, 05/27/11
Kat Murphy, MSN Movies: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...packs lots of firepower: detailed, reach-out-and-touch creature design, lush settings, big 3-D action set pieces.... [Still,] it looks a little too much like training wheels for tots..."(See all of Kat Murphy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 807 words, 05/23/11
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (12 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "...both more and less than its predecessor.... 'I've seen hundreds of movies that were better than that one,' said my 7-year-old screening companion, as if reading my mind."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 730 words, 05/26/11
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: EXCELLENT(cg) "Jack Black gives a charmingly vulnerable but sly vocal performance, with plenty of sass and a decent side order of soul."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 450 words, 05/26/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "It's the 3-D animation, under the spell of director Jennifer Yuh Nelson, that's such a surprise.... it's not just wall-to-wall animation, it is artistry of the highest order."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 879 words, 05/26/11
Kyle Smith, New York Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Rug-rat chaperones are being asked to pay up to $17 for this in Manhattan. Them is grown-up prices. Still, the quality of the animation is worth it."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 759 words, 05/27/11
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: VERY GOOD(cg) "...stays nimble and moves quickly despite some wobbly storyboarding, never forgetting that its overall attitude can be summed up in two words: Just kidding!"(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 303 words, 05/26/11
Logan Hill, New York Magazine: VERY GOOD "...the spectacular last battle between the peacock's forces and the panda's merry band of pranksters is so fast and funny, the eradication of a species is almost forgotten!"(See all of Logan Hill's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 432 words, 05/27/11
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The animation is elegant, the story is much more involving than in the original, and there's boundless energy. I enjoyed it as fully as I possibly could, given the horror of its 3-D."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 611 words, 05/27/11
Nick Schager, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...a fleeter, funnier beast than its 2008 predecessor.... amusing and exciting.... delivers a bevy of superpowered set pieces that are dexterous and delirious..."(See all of Nick Schager's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 199 words, 05/25/11
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Rarer than a peacock villain -- and 'Kung Fu Panda 2' has that, too -- is a movie sequel that's deeper than the original movie.... a welcome oddity."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 578 words, 05/27/11
Stephen Cole, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "...fluffier, more huggably soft than the 2008 original.... seems overly protective of its young audience.... will surely try the patience of older children and fun-seeking parents."(See all of Stephen Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 589 words, 05/27/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "The voice work is terrific... The movie belongs to Jack Black, whose ability to switch between extreme awe and dopey glee is perfectly suited..."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 393 words, 05/26/11
KEY CITIES (13 Reviews)
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: MODERATE(cg) "...satisfying, if less than sensational... a consistent pleasure to watch, even if the outcome of Po's adventures feels like a prophesy that any one of us could have foretold."(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 493 words, 05/26/11
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: VERY GOOD(cg) "...delivers more heart than laughs, and is, if anything, more visually dazzling than the 2008 original film.... has more genuinely heart-tugging moments than any 'Shrek' sequel."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 540 words, 05/27/11
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman ('Being John Malkovich,' 'Adaptation') did a script polish... director Jennifer Yuh keeps it all running smoothly.... The result is worth it."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 549 words, 05/27/11
Janice Page, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a sequel that isn't shy about trading some of its ancestor's light and fluffy parts for a whole that's considerably darker and heavier."(See all of Janice Page's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 739 words, 05/27/11
Tom Keogh, Seattle Times: POOR(cg) "...feels like a betrayal of its predecessor's accomplishments and goodwill, cheapening what worked in the first place to emphasize some wrong things this time around..."(See all of Tom Keogh's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 504 words, 05/27/11
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: FAIR(cg) "...a truly steep and deeply embarrassing falling-off -- a straight-to-DVD-quality production gussied up as first-run entertainment."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 435 words, 05/27/11
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: VERY GOOD(cg) "...sneaky. While it distracts us with Chinese backdrops and buffoonish humor, it sucker punches us with a message about belonging.... an unexpected kick."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 316 words, 05/27/11
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Part two is even more gorgeous to behold, and deeper in substance as Po (voice of Jack Black) seeks inner peace and the truth about his parentage."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 547 words, 05/26/11
Tom Long, Detroit News: VERY GOOD(cg) "What really makes the film work is director Jennifer Yuh's sense of timing.... the rare sequel that improves on the original. It's eminently bearable."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 449 words, 05/27/11
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (10 Reviews)
Nick Schager, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...a fleeter, funnier beast than its 2008 predecessor.... amusing and exciting.... delivers a bevy of superpowered set pieces that are dexterous and delirious..."(See all of Nick Schager's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 199 words, 05/25/11
Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend: EXCELLENT(cg) "...successfully takes story beats from classic kung fu stories and dials back on the humor without letting things get too dark and dramatic... immensely entertaining."(See all of Eric Eisenberg's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 641 words, 05/24/11
Brett Michel, Boston Phoenix: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a handsome film... doesn't offer much that's new, other than its ticket-price-inflating use of 3D. Skip the surcharge: some of the movie's most arresting images were created in glorious flat 2D."(See all of Brett Michel's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 152 words, 05/26/11
Michelle Orange, Movieline: VERY GOOD(cg) "...no dance breaks set to ironically bad pop songs, no sampling from the scummed-over pool of anodyne movie references, and no pandering, puerile jokes."(See all of Michelle Orange's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 728 words, 05/26/11
Glenn Heath Jr., Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...an exquisite looking but substantially hollow sequel... works best when it moves forward in exciting bursts of action, yet most of its forgettable duration is stricken with lengthy exposition."(See all of Glenn Heath Jr.'s reviews...)(Read the full review...) 401 words, 05/25/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "The voice work is terrific... The movie belongs to Jack Black, whose ability to switch between extreme awe and dopey glee is perfectly suited..."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 393 words, 05/26/11
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The script doesn't live up to its predecessor, one of DreamWorks' best animated features.... [but] it turns out to be the rare film that's enhanced, rather than diminished, by 3-D effects."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 434 words, 05/27/11
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...looks like nothing else on the big screen at the moment. I wish the story it was telling was a little more worthy of it."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 372 words, 06/02/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: VERY GOOD "...consistently entertaining.... Hardly a scene goes by that isn't visually striking or kinetically thrilling, and all of it enhanced by 3-D."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 218 words, 05/27/11
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "...both more and less than its predecessor.... 'I've seen hundreds of movies that were better than that one,' said my 7-year-old screening companion, as if reading my mind."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 730 words, 05/26/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "It's the 3-D animation, under the spell of director Jennifer Yuh Nelson, that's such a surprise.... it's not just wall-to-wall animation, it is artistry of the highest order."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 879 words, 05/26/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Peter Debruge, Daily Variety: GOOD "While not as fresh as the first, the sequel certainly makes good on its promise.... the laughs help to pave over certain shortcomings in the story..."(See all of Peter Debruge's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 931 words, 05/22/11
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD "...it's apparent that some extra effort has been expended to make sure that the second entry here didn't hit a foul ball, to strengthen the bench to provide a little extra depth."(See all of Todd McCarthy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 641 words, 05/22/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "It's the 3-D animation, under the spell of director Jennifer Yuh Nelson, that's such a surprise.... it's not just wall-to-wall animation, it is artistry of the highest order."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 879 words, 05/26/11
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "...both more and less than its predecessor.... 'I've seen hundreds of movies that were better than that one,' said my 7-year-old screening companion, as if reading my mind."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 730 words, 05/26/11
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: VERY GOOD "...consistently entertaining.... Hardly a scene goes by that isn't visually striking or kinetically thrilling, and all of it enhanced by 3-D."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 218 words, 05/27/11
17.5 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Kung Fu Panda 2's reviews are separated by an average 17.5 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Kung Fu Panda 2 (43 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Kung Fu Panda 2's reviews cover 84.2% of potential readers (average is 68.0%). Volume:The film's reviews total 21,286 words involume (average is 20,221 words). Length:The film's reviews average 495 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Kung Fu Panda 2 Coverage, Volume & Length (43 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 6.0 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.3 Release)
Kung Fu Panda 2's reviews on average broke 6.0 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.3 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Kung Fu Panda 2's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Kung Fu Panda 2 (43 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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