“Kung Fu Panda” panders to the kid audience. Their elder chaperones may not flip for it, but they can still get a kick out of the playful martial artistry and meticulous, computer-generated animation of this conventionally plotted yet occasionally worthwhile family film.

Here, profound Buddhist practices and picturesque Chinese folk history come up against the comedic vocal stylings of protagonist Jack Black and the cartoon critter clowning of the Hollywood blockbuster machine.