Kung Food
Kids say
Based on 1 review
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Kung Food
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Kung Food is an animated comedy (based on a Chinese children's TV series) about walking, talking food items -- sushi, noodles, dumplings, etc. -- with martial arts skills. The animation is well done but also chaotic, and the story is hard to follow. The comedy is utterly ridiculous, with most of the humor a buffet of food puns, some of them definitely aimed at parents (how many kids will get a "buns of steel" reference?). There are moments of peril, and cartoon violence includes swashbuckling sword fighting and martial arts combat (some fish wind up as sliced dinner) with weapons like knives, nunchaku, and ninja stars. It's implied that a key character dies. One scene has a character acting as if he's high after drinking chicken soup, stating afterward that "This is what a hangover feels like." There are references to praying to ancestors and reaching enlightenment. Expect some insulting language from the goofy octopus villain ("imbeciles," "morons"), as well as mild profanity ("crap," "hell").
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What's the Story?
In KUNG FOOD, Super Bao (voiced by Koula Kyriaki Glyptou) is dismissed from martial arts training, unprepared but given the "staff of destiny" on his journey to becoming a hero. After he joins a crew of adventurers, they must protect the World of Food when a band of pirates plots to steal the five flavor stones and control taste forever.
Is It Any Good?
This cartoon stew is a feast for the eyes and ears, but it overfeeds audiences. Super Bao is a steamed bun who wants to be a hero. His friends are jelly rolls and noodles; his enemies are sushi and calamari. The story hammers home the five basic elements of taste (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy), as the evil Lord Octopus (Barry Samson) wants to control flavor so he can taste better. Why an ocean creature would want to be more delicious -- and, therefore, more likely to become someone's dinner -- is confusing, but then, so is the entire story. This isn't meant to make sense; it's meant to amuse.
The characters' animation style is designed to appeal to younger children, and all of the artwork is meaty and well done. Based on a TV series that airs in China, Kung Food was initially released in 2018 in China and South Korea, and there's an assumption that viewers already know the source cuisine (including items like fried dough sticks and sesame seed cakes), if not the characters. But the dialogue is a cacophony of jokes that overwhelms the story, a lot of it wordplay that will go over kids' heads. Bottom line? While visually enticing, the story is ultimately a smorgasbord that's difficult to digest.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the five basic tastes and why knowing them aids in cooking appealing dishes. Identify the taste foundations in your favorite foods.
Kung Food is a Chinese film and highlights that country's food and culture. Which food and cultural references would you expect to see in movies made by or about other countries?
What does Super Bao learn about what it means to be a hero? How does he demonstrate intregrity? How can we be a hero in our everyday lives, no matter our age?
How are teamwork and perseverance demonstrated here? Why are these important life skills?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 19, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: June 21, 2022
- Cast: Koula Kyriaki Glyptou, Grace Samson, Chris Hover
- Director: Haipeng Sun
- Studio: Level 33 Entertainment
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Cooking and Baking, Adventures, Friendship
- Run time: 99 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: December 7, 2022
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