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Kung Fu Panda 4
Movie

Kung Fu Panda 4

2024 • Animation, Action, Adventure

Woke Score
3
out of 10

Plot

After Po is tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, he needs to find and train a new Dragon Warrior, while a wicked sorceress plans to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit re...

Overall Series Review

The fourth installment in the franchise is a fast-paced action comedy centered on the theme of embracing personal change. Po must transition from the role of Dragon Warrior to Spiritual Leader, requiring him to find and train a successor. He teams up with a quick-witted fox thief, Zhen, to defeat a new shape-shifting sorceress. The story’s main focus is the unexpected mentorship and the development of the new protagonist. While the film retains the franchise's emphasis on meritocracy and family, it introduces narrative choices that align with contemporary tropes. The core family unit of Po and his two devoted fathers remains a pillar of the story. The narrative avoids direct political lecturing, but the villain’s motivation is rooted in a sense of being an oppressed victim due to her small size, and the new female lead initially exhibits unearned competence against the established hero. The spiritual themes, though present in the plot, are less subtle and profound than in previous films.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics4/10

The main villain, The Chameleon, attributes her turn to evil to being denied training because of her small size, framing her story as one of being a victim of institutional discrimination due to an immutable characteristic. The new protagonist is a female thief chosen to replace the established male hero. However, the story primarily prioritizes Po's long-standing message of finding inner strength and judging character by the content of their soul, not by their identity group.

Oikophobia1/10

The plot centers on Po accepting a promotion to Spiritual Leader, which reinforces and respects the existing traditional hierarchy and the wisdom of the deceased Master Oogway. The established Chinese-inspired culture and the Valley of Peace are portrayed as a home and institution worthy of protection. Po's fathers are depicted with strong familial care and loyalty, providing a positive view of family and heritage.

Feminism5/10

A new, female apprentice, Zhen, is introduced to take over the male lead's central role as the Dragon Warrior, following Po's promotion. Zhen is initially depicted as effortlessly out-skilling Po in their first encounter with no clear explanation for her prowess, which aligns with the 'Girl Boss' trope. However, her arc requires her to learn moral lessons and ultimately grow into the role, and the climax avoids having her single-handedly save the day, with Po landing the decisive final blow. The main villain is also female.

LGBTQ+4/10

The movie continues to feature Po's non-normative but highly supportive and loving two-father family unit—his adoptive goose father and his biological panda father. This dynamic is a long-standing plot point, and its use in this film is centered on family loyalty and comical relief in their side mission, rather than a lecture on sexual or gender ideology.

Anti-Theism3/10

The core of Po's new journey is his ascent to the role of Spiritual Leader, which frames the pursuit of inner peace and mastery of 'Chi' as a source of strength and guidance. While some critics found the spiritual elements less nuanced than in previous installments, the narrative promotes objective truths like 'doing the right thing' and 'embracing positive change'. There is no hostility toward the concept of higher moral law or spirituality.