'Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)' is definitely the weakest in its series so far, but that doesn't mean it isn't an entertaining animated comedy that's better than a lot of franchise's third movies. The main problem with the piece is that, compared to its predecessors, it favours farce over emotionality, obfuscating the genuinely strong themes at its core with more than its fair share of fat panda jokes. It also takes its protagonist back to a state of 'not knowing who he is', simply so that he can undergo the same arc he's essentially undergone once before. The story doesn't properly explore the elements which ought to be really affecting, aside from in a couple of scenes that easily stand-out as the narrative highlights and serve to further prove that the screenplay doesn't reach its full potential. Instead, it spends its time reveling in its new panda village and the strange culture Po finds once he's there. Honestly, it feels like it's just spinning its wheels for a large part of its midsection. The third act then rolls around so fast you're left wondering how we're already at that part of the movie, but thankfully it's far better than anything in the second and leaves things on a high note. The villain is a little one-note compared to Tai Lung and Shen, but he's still a formidable foe that uses his own version of Kratos' Blades of Chaos and is always entertaining to watch. The visually stunning final battle is a worthy set-piece to end the story with, as is the denouement that follows. The visuals are really what set this apart from many of its peers, and its vibrant aesthetic goes a long way in making it as enjoyable as it ultimately is. Some of its sequences are presented in a strikingly stylised way reminiscent of something like 'Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)' or 'Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022)', but this came out before either of those so isn't simply riding on their coattails. Instead, it's carving out its own distinct look that meshes with its energetic choreography to create a lavish feast for the eyes that never takes the easy route to its filmmaking. In the end, this is a solid effort that may fall somewhat short in the narrative department but absolutely shines in the aesthetic one. It's an entertaining and good-humoured affair throughout.