What can I say? I love pandas. They’re round and cuddly and cute-looking, but not too overly cute because they come only in black and white, not pink, not any other cutesy color.

And then they come up with a movie with a panda as a hero, a kung fu hero at that, and get this, with my favorite Jack Black as The Voice. So panda + kung fu + Jack Black + Dreamworks = what can go wrong for Amee? (I love these individual elements on their own. I only realized that everything combined makes for one hilarious experience.)

Even more, the rest of the voice talents are no lightweights either. Dustin Hoffman (check), Angelina Jolie (check), Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, among others. And (drum roll please) my all-time fave, Jacky Chan.

The nytimes describes the movie as high concept with a heart. I say it just rocks, no big words needed.

The morals of the story are:

• The chosen ones are not always the most likely ones. Sometimes it takes a big, round tummy to beat the foe.
• It always pays to have food as motivation. If one loves food, one will do anything for food. Will write for food, if Anthony Bourdain, or any French chef cooks. Or anyone cooks a yummy meal for me, for that matter.
• Sometimes there is no magic. You only have to make your own magic.
• Follow your heart. Follow your imagination (even if it seems impossible).