Worth the "weight"

The highly anticipated end to the Kung Fu Panda trilogy truly delivers a heartwarming finish to Po's (Jack Black) story as the Dragon Warrior. Directors Jennifer Nelson and Alessandro Carloni have once again created a seamless animated adventure full of just enough twists, laughs and tear-jerking moments that make this movie appealing for anyone. The new concepts, characters and obstacles easily compel the targeted younger audiences into following Po on yet another feat.

The movie opens with a prologue set in a spirit realm, where the deceased Grand Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) fights and is defeated by an ancient frenemy, Kai (J. K. Simmons), who is quickly painted as the villain. Kai wishes to return to the mortal world and steal the Chi, or life force and energy, of all the kung fu masters for himself so he may destroy Po, who is fated to overthrow him. Meanwhile, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) retires and passes on the role of teacher to Po. Po struggles to teach Kung Fu to his friends, the Furious Five, consisting of Master Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Master Crane (David Cross), Master Mantis (Seth Rogen), Master Viper (Lucy Liu) and Master Monkey (Jackie Chan).

Shortly after Shifu's retirement, Kai returns to the mortal world, having stolen Oogway's chi. He begins attacking Shifu, Po and the Furious Five, controlling jade statues of kung fu masters whose chi have been stolen. Ultimately, Po and Tigress are the only two masters left. They seek the help of Po's biological father Li Shan (Bryan Cranston), his adoptive father Mr. Ping (James Hong) and a hidden village of pandas. They must discover the secret of Chi in time to face a power hungry and destructive Kai.

The consistency between all three movies of the franchise is commendable, from running time to character development. Each movie runs for about 90 minutes, which is fairly short, yet the plot never seems rushed. Similarly, each movie focuses on the development of different characters, with the exception of the titular character Po, whose development is seen throughout all three films. "Kung Fu Panda 3" puts emphasis on identity, delving into the contrasting personalities and intentions of Li Shan and Mr. Ping who now share a son. The movie also features the introduction of a whole community of pandas, who were thought to be extinct following a mass genocide.

The exciting explorations of these characters go hand in hand with the clever comedic relief effortlessly weaved throughout the movie. Once Po is brought to the village of pandas, devastated and demoralized, his spirits are instantly lifted by witnessing the normal lives of his kind. This involves consuming one's body weight in dumplings, sleeping until noon and rolling down hills as a method of transportation. The combination of witty dialogue and stunning visual effects which emphasize the lazy, carefree nature of pandas, is present all throughout the movie, delivering infectious comedy to all.

However, the visual appeal is not limited to just the pandas. Directors Nelson and Carloni create several other beautiful landscapes that don't go unnoticed. One of these is the spirit realm, featured at the beginning and end of the movie. This parallel dimension is presented as ethereal, with floating colliding rock formations and kung fu moves which emit glowing lights. Visual effects are also present in the action scenes, where fighting sequences fluidly switch between normal and slow motion to emphasize hits and evoke laughs.

"Kung Fu Panda 3" is a satisfying closer to the beloved trilogy. Compelling yet light-hearted, this movie is perfect for all ages. Even if you've missed its predecessors, any holes are quickly filled at the beginning of the movie. Don't miss this final installment. It's worth the wait.

Kung Fu Panda 3 is rated PG for martial arts action and some mild rude humor.