‘Kung-Fu Panda’

Rated: PG

Starring: Voices of: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman

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Directed by: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson

Runtime: 91 minutes

If an animated feature doesn’t have Pixar attached to it, I’m usually staying away.

“Kung-Fu Panda” isn’t going to topple Pixar’s stranglehold on the animated world, but it might put a chink in its armor.

The film stars the portly panda Po (voiced by Jack Black) who works in his father, Mr. Ping’s (James Hong) noodle shop. The two are related even though Mr. Ping is a winged creature.

The father and son live in the Valley of Peace, which is nestled below a temple with millions of steps above. Po barely manages his way up to the temple, noodle cart in tow, to cater to those who have arrived to see who the next Dragon Warrior will be.

The Dragon Warrior must fight the feared Tai Lung (Ian McShane). Five other animals, voiced by an all-star cast including Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen and David Cross, have been selected to compete for the honor. These chosen ones have worked with sage trainer Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) to prepare for Tai Lung. The temple’s master, a tortoise named Oogway (Randall Duk Kim), inevitably chooses potbellied Po for the great battle.

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The second half of the movie consists of intense animated action sequences, many of which have been seen in kung-fu movies for decades. The animation is quick and does a good enough job of keeping the viewer hooked.

The film does contain some laughs and Black’s Po is likable enough, but these characters aren’t going to be showing up in any daytime cartoon spin-offs anytime soon.

Where “Kung-Fu Panda” falls short is the all-too-familiar plot. Like so many animated features before it, the film takes a down-on-his-luck everyman and pushes the idea that dreams can come true. Following your dreams is, of course, a valuable lesson, but the film doesn’t do anything groundbreaking with it.

If you find yourself babysitting this week, you could do worse than a trip to see “Kung-Fu Panda.” Then again, you could always watch “The Incredibles” on DVD.

Luke McCormick can be reached at [email protected] or 536-3311 ext. 275.