As a long-awaited return to the Kung Fu Panda series, there has been a weight of expectations and hype surrounding the return to one of Dreamworks’ most beloved series.

Jack Black’s Po has become his seminal role and one of the most beloved characters of the Dreamworks’ franchise. His character continues to be as charming and hilarious as ever, and he approaches every scene with his infectious enthusiasm.

But for as much as Jack Black is the Kung-Fu Panda, the emotional weight largely comes from the villain and their story. Whether it was Tai Lung’s studentship under and betrayal of Master Shifu, Lord Shen’s attempted genocide of the Pandas, or Kai’s ancient war with Master Oogwey, each villain poses a real threat to the Valley of Peace and challenges Po in his mind, body, and soul.

Despite Viola Davies’ legendary acting pedigree, her performance as The Chameleon is unmemorable. Motivated by the physical attributes she feels hold her back, her backstory is unrealistic in a world of insects and chicken kung-fu masters. Lord Shen’s brutal murder of the Pandas allowed him to push Po and the young audience to their mental limits; here, the villain lost with a hearty Skadoosh and the day was saved. Each of the prior villains defeated the Furious Five – without them, the threat of overwhelming power did not land.

Zhen, played by the distinctive Awkwafina, and Po’s dads, played by James Hong and Bryan Cranston, are the stand-in characters for the Furious Five in this film. The double dads provide an endearing and positive representation for both adoptive parents and a pseudo-gay couple. Awkwafina’s character suffers more from the shadow of her predecessors, however, as she is an inoffensive hero living up to the three films of Tigress character development.

The animation of the series has always been a considerable strength, blending different artistic styles with Dreamworks’ trademark smooth, fast action. As the first film really pushed the genre’s boundaries, much of the audience expected this film to do the same, such as dropping the frames like the acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Like the writing, the animation does everything you expect from an animated children’s movie, but it does not take the extra steps to push the medium’s capabilities.

Scored by Hans Zimmer, one of the greatest of his craft, the music is beautifully executed and a highlight as always. His work always adds endlessly to films and gives music fans a lot to smile about. Alongside this score, Tenacious D – Jack Black’s band – deliver an excellent cover of Britney Spears’ ‘…Baby One More Time’, which proves incredibly catchy and a guilty pleasure on many playlists.

Unlike Po, this film is not black and white – whilst enjoyable, it ultimately suffers from its predecessor’s ambition and execution. It is not egregious by any means, and the lead performances and scores were as good as ever, but it lacks the witty writing, emotional weight, and the Furious Five that would make Kung Fu Panda 4 endlessly rewatchable like the original.