IN THEATRES NOW

KUNG FU PANDA:

"SKEEDOOCH" Yeah for PO-POWER!! Finally an animated action hero chiseled from real folk -- one who appreciates that you're nobody until you have your own action figure! The voice talent of Jack Black comes alive in the grotesquely obese Panda Po. His dreams are realized when he goes from Kung Fu Master groupie to the next Kung Fu master and prophesized Dragon Warrior. However, in the fashion of art imitates life, he is under estimated. Master Shefoo, animated by the voice talent of veteran actor Dustin Hoffman, tries his best to discourage PO. Later Shefoo has an epiphany and realizes that power doesn't come in expected packages. Likewise, PO realizes that true power comes with faith in oneself. In other words, use what you have, not what you dream of having.

What I like about this storyline is that some of the protagonist's allies are also females. Two of the five Kung Foo Masters are female -- Tigress and Serpent. In addition to being a total Kung Fu “badaaz,” Tigress follows in the footsteps of Fa Mulan, the iconic female heroine. Alright, expect Kung Fu Tigress' ringing your door bell next Halloween. I wouldn't be surprised if little girls trade in their ballet tutus for a gee -- "Skeedooch!" Angelina Jolie voices Tigress. I believe Lucy Lu was Serpent. The incomparable Jackie Chan voices another character. However, he takes a back seat in the marketing junkets and you don't even know it's him until the credits. In truth, I can’t remember whether he was Monkey, Crane or Cricket. But it doesn’t matter who played whom. Like Mike Myers in “Shrek,” the characters have a life of their own without the conscience recognition of their high profiled voice talent.

PO the Panda does all us Lo Mein eating, couch potatoes proud. I've always said that Fat-Fu was a legitimate marshal art form. I’m going out to get my spare tire and upper arm flaps registered as lethal weapons. I might have to use them on the next person who cuts in front of me on the KFC line. "Skeedooch! “How ya like me now! Take all that fat-a-tat-tat!!” KUNG FU PANDA -- LUV-DED-DIT!! I give this one 5/5 SMOOCHES! See it, see it again and buy it when it comes out on DVD for your library – whether you have children or not.