MovieChat Forums > Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) Discussion > Did anyone dislike that this sequel was ...

Did anyone dislike that this sequel was rather a melodrama?

posted 13 years ago by Tinny-Tinette
21 replies | jump to latest

Although the first “Kung Fu Panda” was not my definite favorite movie, I still enjoyed it a lot. I honestly think it’s one of Dreamworks most memorable movies. Their best since “Antz”, actually. While I wasn’t expecting much from the sequel, I still found it a weaker movie. Mostly because they turned back the lighthearted tone from the first flick for a melodrama.

While the first movie had its moments of depth and resonance, I still appreciated its funny and lighthearted tone. The sequel had its moments of fun , don’t get me wrong. But it still wasn’t funny enough compared to the predecessor. In the end, most of the humorous moments felt out of place. Perhaps because that the melodrama and darker moments had already taken over the movie. To be honest, it felt out of place to see the fun-loving Po and the rest of the fun characters in a dark, serious drama, which leads me to that they made a better fit in a more lighter movie (in my opinion though). I didn’t mind the subplot of Po finding his origin. The flashback moment was genuinely touching. What I didn’t like, is that they practically eliminated all the fun at the end, for sappiness and melodrama. Which leads me to the point that I thought the first film was much, much better.

Pardon me for starting this thread, considering that a user already started another thread about his/hers disappointment over the movie. However, I felt the need to complain about the fact that I disliked the serious move for this sequel. So my question is; Did anyone else dislike that the directors made this movie more darker, more serious than the first flick? If you do or don’t, please explain why.

[–] thetrueoppo 13 years ago

I don't think that Kung Fu Panda 2 was so serious that the comedic moments felt out of place. Rather, I found that the funny moments were perfectly integrated into the story. Plus, much of the action scenes themselves provide much comedy.

[–] Tinny-Tinette 13 years ago

I don't think that Kung Fu Panda 2was so serious that the comedic moments felt out of place. Rather, I found that the funny moments were perfectly integrated into the story. Plus, much of the action scenes themselves provide much comedy.

Very well. But what do think the fact that this sequel was darker, more seriious comparing to its predecessor?

[–] thetrueoppo 13 years ago

Very well. But what do think the fact that this sequel was darker, more seriious comparing to its predecessor?

I think the tone of the second film was mostly consistent with the tone of the first one.

Remember, there were serious moments in the first film, too.

Yes, the second film was more serious, but that's kind of entertaining, too.

[–] Tinny-Tinette 13 years ago

I think the tone of the second film was mostly consistent with the tone of the first one.

I have to disagree. But that's fine. We can't have all the same opinions.

Remember, there were serious moments in the first film, too.

Sorry to nitpick, but did you actually read my first post? I actually wrote that the first flick had serious moments.

[–] thetrueoppo 13 years ago

Sorry to nitpick, but did you actually read my first post? I actually wrote that the first flick had serious moments.

I'll admit I didn't read it too carefully, but I still think you're over emphasizing Kung Fu Panda 2's more dark and serious tone.

[–] Tinny-Tinette 13 years ago

I'll admit I didn't read it too carefully

Okay, you're forgiven.

but I still think you're over emphasizing Kung Fu Panda 2 more dark and serious tone.

Sorry for that, but that's just how I feel. I have my opinion and you have yours, right?

[–] thetrueoppo 13 years ago

I have my opinion and you have yours, right?

Yes, and let me explain mine further. You say that Kung Fu Panda 2 was more melodramatic than the first one, with which I do agree, but you might have forgotten just how melodramatic the first one could be. The scenes with Tai Lung, such as the flashback and the fight with Shifu rival the most melodramatic moments in Kung Fu Panda 2, for example.

Plus, Kung Fu Panda 2 is full of slapstick. Just look at the scenes that take place in the streets of Gongmen city. What with the Po's briefly pretending to be a female, swallowing wolves with the dragon costume, the tossing of a basket of bunnies into Po's face, there's more comedy than anyone could ask for.

[–] Tinny-Tinette 13 years ago

but you might have forgotten just how melodramatic the first one could be. The scenes with Tai Lung, such as the flashback and the fight with Shifu rival the most melodramatic moments in Kung Fu Panda 2, for example.

That's true. However, I didn't felt it was just as sappy as the sequel.

Plus, Kung Fu Panda 2 is full of slapstick. Just look at the scenes that take place in the streets of Gongmen city. What with the Po's briefly pretending to be a female, swallowing wolves with the dragon costume, the tossing of a basket of bunnies into Po's face, there's more comedy than anyone could ask for.

True, but that doesn't mean that the comedy is necessarily funny. I thought this film had its funny moments, but after a while they felt out of place because of the melodrama.

[–] tony419 13 years ago

Exactly my point! Serious can also be entertaining. There is absolutely nothing wrong in the movie being a lil dark. A movie doesnt have to be all happy-go-merry sunshine to be entertaining. Let the kids grow a lil and see how life is. This aint Tom and Jerry for God's sakes. I know people watch movies to escape but the very fact that its a movie IS THE ESCAPE! I dont want to cross the border from escapism to unrealism. The movie's mirror life, it might me cover with animation and fun and fighting animals, but it still mirrors life, and life tends to get dark with the hope that the sun will shine again. And the kids need to learn this. Don't let them grow up unprepared from life. You know the movies give them an idea of how life is, let it be the at least a close idea. Overall, i loved KP2!

Now that we know who you are, I know who I am. - Mr Glass

[–] Erazer528 13 years ago

I think the tone was very similiar to the first movie. Mostly it's a comedy, but it has some dramatic moments. The only difference is: The comedy is more funny, and the drama is more serious. Don't get me wrong, I liked the first movie, but I don't think that it was THAT funny. It definitely got me some laughs, but most of the comedy just came from Po's clumsiness. I liked the movie more for its serious tones and, of course, the spectacular action scenes, but not really for the comedy.

The sequel now is another case - there is a lot of slapstick, but I think the comedy is more varied. This just caused me to like the funny moments just as much as the dramatic parts, and all of that is very well balanced. All in all, I wouldn't call it a melodrama, but I wouldn't call it a comedy either. Because, in my opinion, it's all of that in one.

[–] jamasian_man 13 years ago

The only thing I disliked about the second movie is that the fight scenes were not as good as the first. Too much team style fighting, no one vs. one or one vs. five.

Hopefully they can keep up the quality and story ideas for the sequels.

[–] hylian7 13 years ago

A story getting gradually darker and deeper as it goes is no new thing, look at Harry Potter. It makes sense that the tone would be a bit less light-hearted and funny, because Po is a warrior now, and he's not fighting one villain to save one village, he's fighting a villain with a huge army and cannons to save all of China and kung fu, while having an internal conflict about his parentage.

But I didn't enjoy KFP 2 as much as the original either. Not because it was a 'melodrama' as you put it, but because of many things which just don't work very well.

[–] Tinny-Tinette 13 years ago

A story getting gradually darker and deeper as it goes is no new thing, look at Harry Potter. It makes sense that the tone would be a bit less light-hearted and funny, because Po is a warrior now, and he's not fighting one villain to save one village, he's fighting a villain with a huge army and cannons to save all of China and kung fu, while having an internal conflict about his parentage.

True. You have a valid point. Yet I still stand on my statement.

t I didn't enjoy KFP 2 as much as the original either. Not because it was a 'melodrama' as you put it, but because of many things which just don't work very well.

Like what?

[–] Walter_Roehrich 13 years ago

I think the main problem in my opinion was that the directors could not decide whether to make a funny comedy or a melodrama. Instead of deciding for one direction they tried to combine these two genres and I think this did not work very well.

I can't say that I did not enjoy the movie (it is the second best animated movie of the year so far) but I think that the movie changed the tone too quickly and too often.

All in all the movie would have been better in my opinion if they had reduced the funny moments to a minimum.
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That's just weak songwriting. You wrote a bad song, Petey.

[–] Tinny-Tinette 13 years ago

I think the main problem in my opinion was that the directors could not decide whether to make a funny comedy or a melodrama. Instead of deciding for one direction they tried to combine these two genres and I think this did not work very well.

That was primarily my problem with the film, too.

[–] Erazer528 13 years ago

I had exactly the same problem with Pixar's "UP", but I actually think they balanced it way better here. Presenting the serious parts about Po's back story in 2D was a perfect way to differ it from the more comedic rest of the movie. And I don't think they should have "reduced the funny moments to a minimum", you wouldn't be happier if that happened. You'd probably be critizing the movie for its lack of funny moments instead.

For me, the comedy and the drama was very well balanced. I didn't have problems with that.

[–] Walter_Roehrich 13 years ago

You'd probably be critizing the movie for its lack of funny moments instead.

I don't think so. I just prefer animated movies which have a more serious tone over movies with lots of funny moments.

But of course I know that Kung Fu Panda won't change into a drama since the change would be just too big.

Nevertheless I respect your opinion and I'm glad that you enjoyed the movie.

---
That's just weak songwriting. You wrote a bad song, Petey.

[–] lumosnight 13 years ago

KFP was supposed to be a parody of an unlikely hero, it took the mickey out of everything using pretty good humor. That's why I liked it, the humor wasn't forced and was genuinely funny.

Now that they introduced dramatic moments in the second film it seems out of place and is indecisive on whether it should be funny or serious. The writers really need to decide which way they are going and settle for one, and I say they should stick to being funny. It is good to add a couple of serious moments, like when Tai Lung confronted Shifu at a personal level. Having some heavier stuff like massacring pandas makes the humor in the film sound awkward and wrong, as if it's disrespectful to the genre of war. I still enjoyed the second film and I loved Lord Shen's character, but I remember having more fun in the first film than the second one.

[–] hylian7 13 years ago

Actually, KFP wasn't intended to be a parody. The directors of the first film said that it was first going to be a spoof/ parody, but they changed it and instead wanted to make a real kung fu film that could take itself seriously, a real 'hero's journey' story, which happened to have a comedic character.

Dramatic moments were not 'introduced' in the sequel, they were there in the first, as you said. In my opinion, they were done better in the first. The panda massacre in itself wasn't made fun of in KFP 2, it caused some character exploration for Po, so I don't get how it's disrespectful to merely have it in the film.

I see no reason why they should have to stick to one genre, comedy or drama. They can do both. Look at so many great animated films, I think you'd be hard pressed to find one that didn't have both elements. Look at The Lion King, it had a gassy warthog as well as an epic personal journey for the hero.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] winzentween 13 years ago

i think it comes down to one thing, the film is about kung fu, kung fu is not fun and sweet it is dangerous and hard core, the film reflects this and as a result is not as simple as the first film. it be like making a film about the gun trade without mentioning that people use guns to kill people. there could still be humour and romance etc but to be remotely realistic or socially responsible there must be a darker, deeper message within.