Watching the first Kung Fu Panda in 2008, it hadn’t really struck me as something with much staying power as far as sequels were concerned. The idea of a clumsy, rotund, dumpling-loving panda destined for martial arts greatness is hilarious, no doubt, and the film was enjoyable and all, but there just didn’t seem enough in the premise to fuel further installments. But Kung Fu Panda 2 came out in 2011, and while it might not have improved upon its predecessor, still made for a pretty good time. And now, with the release of the third iteration, directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni,the franchise once again demonstrates its improbable resilience: 3 is beautifully-visualised, surprisingly moving at times and just plain goofy fun for the most part. Though fairly predictable by way of plot, it still manages—by coasting on clever writing and the strengths of a top-notch voice cast—to pull you in, regardless of age.  

We find ol’ Po (Jack Black) in a rather good place. The Furious Five—namely, Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Crane (David Cross)—seem to have finally accepted him into their fold, and the Valley of Peace has been more or less living upto its name. Not for long, though. Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) suddenly announces his retirement and chooses to leave Po—yes, Po!—in charge of training the other warriors, something neither our tubby hero himself nor his new “students” think is at all a wise decision. And like there wasn’t enough on poor Po’s plate already, a certain someone from his past has just shown up at his door, turning everything he knew about himself upside down.

Oh, and there’s also a vengeful spirit warrior named Kai (JK Simmons) on the loose, who has recently crossed over into the mortal realm, and is hell bent on sapping the powers of all the masters in the land, presumably to rule the world or some other such thing. Po, then, has his furry hands full: not only must he dig deep into his roots to discover where he’s come from and who he really is, but there is also the small matter of protecting his family and friends from Kai and his gang ofjade zombies and restoring peace in the valley.

There isn’t much that is new about the story here; whether it has to do with questions of identity and finding one’s true self, the nature versus nurture debate, or the power of teamwork and friendship and all that jazz, these are themes that have been a staple in kids’ films for ages, and the film’s treatment of these isn’t wildly inventive in any way. In fact, stripped down to its bare bones, Kung Fu Panda 3 follows much the same broad arc as its predecessors: Panda encounters seemingly undefeatable problem, struggles with insecurities stemming from what he sees as his unwieldy panda-ness, eventually realises its precisely that panda-ness that has equipped him with certain unique skills, uses said skills to solve the problem, saves the day.

It’s therefore to the credit of screenwriters Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger—also the team behind the first two films—that despite the clichéd plot, they are still able to infuse freshness into the proceedings and keep things interesting. This is owing, in large measure, to the fact that the film—and indeed, the series as a whole—has never truly allowed itself to become bogged down with too much serious messaging or serious anything, really; Kung Fu Panda is mostly just about charming slapstick and easy, buoyant jokes, not even trying too hard to pack in the pop-cultural zings like many of its animated contemporaries. That playful touch allows it to get away with content that could’ve easily felt grating; one never feels lectured to here, which is a relief. Also welcome is how the new film advances Po’s backstory, finally revealing the mystery of his unlikely designation as the Dragon Warrior, and neatly bridging the past and the present. This effectively brings the series to a satisfying potential conclusion, a good point to cap off the three-part saga—if that is the plan.

As for the performers, Black, as always, steals the show here; he’s such a perfect fit for Po, a character modeled so accurately after his real-life persona and distinctive mannerisms, that it’s almost impossible to separate the two or indeed imagine anyone else in the role. He’s accompanied by some terrific others—some from past films, some new—particularly Bryan Cranston, James Hong, Simmons and Hoffman, but one does wish the rest of the voice cast had been given a little more to do; Liu and Cross, for instance, have just two or three lines at the most. Still, it’s hard to complain given Black’s ridiculous, contagious effervescence—you can just tell he’s having a blast.

Let’s take a moment now to marvel at the actual animation in the film, something that has always set the series apart, but which scales new heights in this new installment. The 3D is lush as can be, an immersive, lively combination of textures and colours and effects, and there are a number of 2D sequences inserted throughout—generally in the service of flashbacks—that provide wonderful contrast, as well as stylistic references to comic-book aesthetics, making for an interesting mix. What’s also notable is the imaginative use of traditional Chinese motifs in the visuals, which works well to locate the story in its chosen setting. It’s all just a real treat for the eyes—watch out especially for the jaw-dropping rendering of the Panda village and the mystical spirit realm—though I can’t vouch for whether the 3D will be worth the added charge.

If you haven’t watched the first two offerings in the Kung Fu Panda line, this new one probably won’t appeal to you. But if you’re acquainted with Po, and have liked his company—or just enjoy the odd “Skadoosh!” courtesy of Mr Black—this is just the ticket. Kung Fu Panda 3 doesn’t have all that much to say, and it certainly doesn’t possess the sort of emotional or satirical heft that recent features like Inside Out or Zootopia might have boasted, but it’s funny and likeabsle and beautiful enough to be your best bet for a non-disappointing time at the theatre right now.