KUNG FU PANDA 3 (****)

(2016) Po is back for a third go-round, continuing his journey to becoming a kung fu master when he meets his long-lost father and goes home with him to finally assimilate with other pandas.  Unfortunately, he leaves behind his friends, adoptive father, and Master Shifu, all of whom are under a dangerous new threat when the evil supernatural spirit Kai finds his way back to this world, and begins his quest to steal the essences of all the kung fu masters of China, each of which only makes him more powerful ... as Po blissfully revels in his panda brethren, unaware of who - what - is heading his way.  Fun, funny, and a bit darker in tone than its predecessors, Po's time with his real da/fellow pandas seemed to run on a bit long for me, but I love how Kung Fu Panda 3 kept its humor alive while also putting out a great message about fathers and sons, and loyalty to those you love.  (rated PG)

KUNG FU PANDA 3 trailer