PANDA PLAN 2: THE MAGICAL TRIBE -- Jackie Chan Tried

Review by Steve Barton II

Jackie Chan busted his way into the film industry in the mid 1970s and he hasn’t slowed down yet! He cut his teeth on low budget martial arts films in China and built a reputation for his physicality and how he incorporates humor into his work. With his unique style, he quickly caught the attention of Hollywood and became an international icon and created a legacy for generations of fans. Jackie is the star of several franchises like Police Story and Rush Hour, but his newest series is a buddy comedy called Panda Plan where Jackie plays an exaggerated version of himself and his screen partner is a CGI panda. The original Panda Plan hit the big screens back in 2024 to moderate critical and financial success, so a sequel was quickly put into production and we arrived in a new territory with Panda Plan 2: The Magical Tribe. Panda Plan 2 picks up soon after the events of the original where Huhu (the panda) is living in the zoo, but while changing his enclosure, he’s confronted by thieves. While battling off the criminals, Jackie and Huhu fall off a cliff and end up in a mysterious, indigenous tribe’s home and they must find their way back home.

While the original Panda Plan was more of an action comedy with childish humor that the whole family could enjoy, Panda Plan 2 is completely geared towards children. The classic physical gags that Jackie is known for are still present, but unfortunately the years are catching up to our man. He’s still able to do quite a bit physically at the ripe age of 72, but they have to rely much more on CGI and it’s quite noticeable. At times, the CGI works as a punchline, but others are distracting and disappointing when you know it could’ve been in camera. The panda itself does look a bit better than the original film, but it’s still cartoonish in this otherwise “real” world. Seeing Huhu is jarring and odd, but the kids don’t see the problem and will fall in love with the CGI being. The animated memes and other moments will certainly work for the young people, but any parents in the audience will be pulling their arm hairs just to feel something.

Jackie Chan is still able to deliver a fun performance as himself in Panda Plan 2 and while his physical chops may be slower now, he’s comedic genius still shines above all else. His silly grins after ruining a situation and his quick jabs of jokes can keep you engaged at the very least. The supporting cast around him all serve their purpose, but Shan Qiao and Binlong Pan were the ones who stood out comedically with Jackie. The story is quite simple and predictable and could even be compared to classics like The Road to El Dorado or Galaxy Quest, but it works for a simple kid’s movie. Even children who may not speak Chinese nor read too well just yet would still enjoy Panda Plan 2, due to how the physical comedy and bizarre gags translates to any language.

Overall, Panda Plan 2: The Magical Tribe is a film that you can easily turn on for the kids, but you’ll probably catch up on a podcast during. It’s entertaining enough from a visual standpoint and Jackie Chan will always win audiences over with his charm and charisma, but the plot is stale and a bit boring. The idea of showing up in a new place and being misidentified as a hero is nothing new in the slightest, but Jackie elevates it (even if only a few inches). With Panda Plan 2 being such a huge departure from the previous incarnation, the morbid curiosity asks what’s in store for Panda Plan 3? Space? America? As long as Jackie has that adorable Panda with him, kids will flock.

Panda Plan 2: The Magical Tribe is in select theaters starting April 17th! 

Rating: 1.5/5