As a person who grew up and absolutely loved the first movies. The amount of emotional attachment those movies make you feel towards the characters and their backstories is what makes them so special. The stories between those films build on each other and go together perfectly to paint a bigger picture than you previously had. Those movies were well thought out and had a direction with a purpose.
( Now this 4 installation doesn't do none of that, so don't go in expecting a lot of things to make sense.) It has good chase and fight scenes along with comedic moments, it's also all well animated, and this movie can absolutely be enjoyed on its own, but not as a continuation off the foundation that the trilogy has already done set.
Examples... Why force Po to stop being the dragon warrior? He literally in the last movie just unlocked like all his true powers and abilities. Po is still so young, there is no need to rush. Especially since there wasn't even a dragon warrior before him, why that just shows, you dont even really need one all the time.
Po's dad in the last movie was fighting jade zombies and having a great time, and at the end he is training in kungfu. In this movie he is scared of everything and doesn't know how to fight.... what...?
Villian in this movie was evil because she quote, was too small to be accepted in kungfu classes and she's mad about that... bro.... That makes no sense, mantis is tiny and there's no problem there!!! She has no depth and feels boring.
(Spoiler) Then there's Zhen, the thief fox that is not given any time redeem herself to even be worthy of being the dragon warrior. She sets Po up, lies to him, and then fixes her mistake cause she feels bad. So poof she's a perfect candidate. They gave her a similar no parents backstory too by the way. I do not wish to see her again.
They leave the furious 5 out of this movie, the legitimate characters that have been key players in each movie. They are the reason Po even does kungfu in the first place, they were his heros and now best friends. But this movie said no, let's do away with meaningful relationships and key players.
I could go on and on, with the pointless and non directional crash this movie was but I'm gonna stop. I did enjoy the fun of seeing Po on the big screen again kicking butt, but I miss the heart, sorrow, depth, and serious elements that were void in this movie. In turn the inspiration that the other movies made you feel and heart strings they tug at, are all gone in this movie.
Kung fu panda 4.. It was a fun film especially for kids, but for me it was a disappointment. I hate this for the future of Po.