STACK #141 Jul 2016

DVD&BD FEATURE

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Jack Black talks fatherhood and the bear necessities of Kung Fu Panda 3 . Words: Elaine Lipworth FAMILY GUY

The actor notes that the film’s theme of fatherhood is one that resonates strongly with him. “I have a similar dynamic to the one that Po has with both his dads, because I have a stepfather who I’m really close to, and I love my biological dad very much,” he explains. “So I know about that crazy dynamic Po faces. A lot of people have two fathers, so they can relate to Po. Back in the ‘40s and ‘50s divorce wasn’t as common, but now around fifty per cent of the population has stepfathers and stepmothers.” As a parent himself, Black adds that fatherhood is all about being there for the kids when they need you. “Also it’s just about enjoying your kids and appreciating their gifts and their sense of humour. I get tons of satisfaction just

"I t was great to revisit the character of Po. It is always fun to jump into his enthusiastic skin and relive the dream of becoming the master, the Dragon Warrior,” says Jack Black of reprising the role of the animated action hero with a love of dumplings in the third film in the hit franchise. Black attributes the character’s enduring popularity to his innocence and naïveté. “He can seem a little dim! He’s not the brightest bulb in the hardware store (laughs), but people identify with his emotional purity, that love of kung fu and the kindness at the core legendary Dragon Warrior with his long lost father, Li (voiced by Bryan Cranston), with whom he rediscovers the panda way of life. A self-confessed fan of Breaking Bad , Black admits the casting of Cranston was a big deal. “I met him at a charity poker game a few years ago and obviously I worship the ground he walks on,” he enthuses. “We were all very excited and he had a huge impact on the movie. The original idea for the character was very different from what he ended up doing with it. He was going to be a quiet, noble and stern father figure. But after Bryan played of his being; there’s a profound wisdom there too. He’s bumbling and clumsy, but he is also a magical creature, so he’s got that yin and yang about him.” Kung Fu Panda 3 reunites the

with it for a while, it became apparent that his character was going to be like Po. In a way, he’s a bigger child than Po. He ended up being really funny.”

I don’t know if I’m as much fun a dad as everybody would imagine

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watching them play. And I love to play with the boys, I love to jump in the pool, and do Lego with them. I even play some video games. I feel a little guilty when I’m sharing screen-time with them

though. It’s such a bad word nowadays and you’re not supposed to let them have any of it, but I’ve definitely broken that rule. We’ve done some Minecraft amongst other games (laughs). “I don’t know if I’m as much fun a dad as everybody would imagine,” he adds. “I think people would be surprised to know how strict I can be. It’s not just like Disneyland all the time. It’s all about boundaries. You’ve got to keep them in line to a certain degree. I’m in trouble if they are like me when I was a kid when they are older! But I know they are probably going to

Jack Black has an interesting hobby during his time off… “I’m a numismatist [coin collector]. I’m not even sure how you pronounce it. I like coins that tell a little bit about history. I think it’s interesting. The most precious coin I have in my collection is actually an American penny, but it’s worth a lot more than a penny. It is a (bust of Liberty) ‘flowing hair cent’, I think from 1812 and her (Liberty’s) hair is flowing in the breeze. It’s rare because it was considered too racy at the time. That says something about our puritanical streak in America.”

be like me. We’ll see [knocks on wood]. I hope they’re not like I was! But I’m not the rock-n-roll dad that everyone wants me to be all the time … I am sometimes.”

• Kung Fu Panda 3 is out on July 6

JULY 2016

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