Kung Fu Panda 2

Right now you can watch Kung Fu Panda 2 in Australia on Netflix and BINGE, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 7,982 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for Jack Black — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Kung Fu Panda 2 is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The jokes in Kung Fu Panda 2 land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Po is finally living the dream as the Dragon Warrior—until a shadow from his past comes roaring back. When the ruthless peacock Lord Shen unleashes a devastating new weapon used to wipe out kung fu masters across the land, Po and the Furious Five race across China to put an end to his plans. But if Po is to have any hope of stopping him, he must first confront the truth of his origins—and find inner peace before his past tears him apart. Between them, Jack Black and Angelina Jolie carry the comedy without ever forcing it. Kung Fu Panda 2 came out in 2011. What keeps Kung Fu Panda 2 from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Kung Fu Panda 2. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Jack Black's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.