With three kids, I’ve had the chance to watch Kung Fu Panda more than once. I was surprised to find myself both moved and laughing on my fourth (fifth?) watch. A big part of this is how the story uses its economical runtime, a blessed 92 minutes.
While a lot is made of Po’s fish-out-of-water story, the writers also drew humor and emotion from a variety of characters and situations: Po’s relationship with his dad, who wants him to take over the noodle shop, as well as the student-teacher relationship of Shifu and Oogway. Together with the main plot, the relationship dynamics make sure something significant or funny is always happening.
