That’s where the “Drive” comes in. The entire final act is a high-octane chase through a magical, ever-shifting city. Think Mad Max: Fury Road meets a Chinese lantern festival. We have to talk about the scene everyone will be memeing. Po, Zhen (the new fox character voiced by Awkwafina), and Mr. Ping are crammed into a stolen, rickety three-wheeled tuk-tuk. The Chameleon’s goons are riding giant, ink-painted lion-dogs.
For five straight minutes, there is no dialogue. Only the sound of squealing tires, Mr. Ping’s goose feathers flying everywhere, and Po screaming in slow motion as a firework hits the engine. It is pure, chaotic, beautiful animation. It feels like a classic Jackie Chan stunt sequence but with fur and feathers. Thematically, yes. The movie asks a tough question: What happens when the road you’re on ends? Do you reverse? Do you park? Or do you build a new road?
Enter the villain: The Chameleon (a scene-stealing Viola Davis). She doesn’t just want to defeat Po; she wants to steer the past. She resurrects old foes (yes, you get a glorious Tai Lung cameo) not for a simple battle, but to crash Po’s sense of identity.