Having seen and enjoyed (if not been bowled over by) the original, I was surprised and delighted by this movie that seems to prove that Dreamworks, while still not quite on a Pixar level (Yet!) could soon catch them up. It handles much more sensitive material than the first movie and tackles some truly dark and heavy subject material, but manages to keep it from becoming a drama by dropping in comedic material in a manner that is never jarring, out of place, or desperate. Lord Shen made for one of the most delightful villains of recent movie history. His push against the future contrasting with Po's struggle with the past was wonderful to watch. Po's talks with his father brought a tear to my eye in more than one moment in the film. This company and production team have firmly established themselves as formidable storytellers and I'm eager to see what's next.

Kung Fu Panda 2 is a rare sequel that comes close to outdoing the first film. I personally think this is the best of the series, as not only does it improve on the already brilliant aspects of Kung Fu Panda, but also adds an unexpected emotional weight to the characters and proceedings. It still continues to be funny, but trust me, the emotional moments are bound to hit you in the feels. I almost cried watching those moments, and there itself knew this was one of the strongest entries in the franchise.

Kung Fu Panda 2 soars really high, and as the tagline on the poster says, delivers "twice the awesomeness". The action sequences involve more than just martial arts; the rickshaw chase sequence is still stuck in my head, and hands down one of the best scenes in the film. The story this time is actually more plot-driven, but also adds greater weight to the characters. Philosophy continues to be here, and it feels stronger whenever served. The voice acting is still a strong aspect, and I can't imagine the film without those voices. And the score, of course, remains a treat to the ears and a worthy aide to the proceedings.

In short, Kung Fu Panda 2 does what most action movie sequels do: intensify the action and give characters bigger and more lethal missions to deal with. But what it also does is make them fully realized so they stay with you even after the credits have rolled. This has to be one of the greatest sequels ever made, and of course, one of the most exciting animated action comedies out there. As an adult, I can assure you there's a lot for you, whether you're a kid or not.