Grin and panda bear it

ANIMATED FRANCHISE IS STARTING TO CREAK WITH AGE AS PO RETURNS FOR A FOURTH ROUND

- DAMON SMITH

SIXTEEN years after Jack Black growled his first "Skadoosh!" while demonstrating a perfect Wuxi Finger Hold in the original Kung Fu Panda, hero Po is showing his age.

Fur and feathers fly with pleasing regularity in a high-kicking fourth instalment of the computer-animated franchise but the jokes punch disappointingly low and light and a powerhungry villain has to absorb the kung fu moves of previous antagonists to become a palpable threat.

"Destiny calls for you to take the next step on your journey," Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) counsels his panda protege, who must ascend to Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace just as Grand Master Oogway intended.