Rare is the film franchise that gets better in it's third outing, but that's exactly what happens with Kung Fu Panda 3, the new feature film from Dreamworks Animation that hits theaters nationwide this Friday. The Dragon Warrior's new adventure might not be the emotional juggernaut that was Toy Story-the film that set the bar for any film with the number three in it's title- but it takes the essence of these movies, enhances it to the max and delivers fantastic entertainment for the whole family along the way.

Jack Black is back as the voice of Poe, who is still extremely jazzed to be the Dragon Warrior defending the village alongside the Furious Five. But destiny quickly throws our beloved panda a curve ball when Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman firing on all cylinders with perfect comedic timing) announces that he is retiring and that Poe will have to fill his shoe as a teacher. As if that wasn't enough to make  him insecure, Poe has to deal with the sudden appearance of his biological father, voiced by Bryan Cranston, and the rise of  Kai (J.K Simmons), a supernatural villain who has escaped the spirit world to steal all the Chi from the kung fu masters of the land.

With these many plot lines coming at Poe, the rhythm of the film could have easily faltered. Fortunately, screenwriters Jonathan Aibel and Glen Berger, who have written the other two films, know that the key to success is to concentrate on Poe's journey and the lessons that result front. Last time around it was all about inner peace, a theme that resurfaces again in a wonderful opening sequence where Master Oogway lets new villain Kai know that Earth is safe under the protection of  an unlikely warrior. During this adventure Poe has to discover what it really means to be a Panda and to overcome his fear of change. Those sentiments might sound as fortune cookie simple, but with the talent of the screenwriters and co-directors Alessandro Carloni and Jennifer Yuh they serve as a springboard to wonderful and visually stunning animated sequences and a great fusion of action and comedy.

Besides the amazing visual play on the Kung Fu movie genre, one of the main reasons these films do so well is Jack Black's considerable contribution to making Poe one of the most relatable characters in modern animation.  No matter what adventure he faces, Poe stands in for every kid who has dreamed of being a super hero and gets his wish fulfillment. Without Black, that child like innocence would not be as deliciously funny and touching. So it's no surprise, or spoiler, to say that in this film the character gets to grow again without losing his sense of wonder. This time around he does it in the best film in a series of amazing animated films.

Kung Fu Panda 3 opens in theaters January 29th.