Summer Sequels

Kung Fu Panda 2,though predictably,impressed the family auds back home if crowds in theatres over the weekend were anything to go by. The 3 D film absolutely fits the bill of a clean,soppy family film with humour and some slick action thrown in for good measure. The evil peacock Shen gives Po the Panda good reason to channelise his inner peace and defend Kung Fu from extinction. Now this in the trilogy of aforementioned sequels,may not have notched figures as impressive as the other two but seems tailormade for success in Indian markets. In fact,it is almost the traditional Bollywood story of an orphan with adopted foster-parents who returns as the Chosen One to vanquish the evildoer,not merely to avenge personal loss but for the greater good! It could well be one of Mr B’s iconic films from the ‘70s with the hero in the garb of a lovable,bumbling,clumsy-on-his-paws panda! Scenes of Po’s nightmares when he sees the red eyes on Shen’s sharpened plumes are reminiscent of the typical Hindi potboilers like Karan Arjun when the heroes experience flashes from their past life.

And there have been attempts inspired by Hollywood such as Chandni Chowk To China,an attempt perhaps to serve up a family action drama with Akshay Kumar as the bumbling Siddhu,a cook in parathewaali galli who lands up in China and delivers the locals from the evil Hojo. The film did not do well at the box-office despite Warner putting its strength behind the film.

Kung Fu Panda of course,gets it just right. There is no romance but enough of emotions,humour and action to pack in the families,young and old alike.