LOS ANGELES, April 13 (UPI) -- Panda Plan was Jackie Chan's Die Hard in a zoo. Unlike Bruce Willis, the same thing can't happen to the same panda twice so Panda Plan 2: The Magical Tribe, in theaters Friday, takes the action back to the panda's natural habitat.
Chan returns Jackie, as he's often been named in movies since the '90s. Since panda Hu Hu was returned to the jungle after the zoo, Jackie travels to visit him.
An indigenous tribe chases Jackie and Hu Hu through the jungle and believes Hu Hu was foretold to climb Awe Summit and save them from an impending catastrophe. Since Jackie is friends with Hu Hu, the tribe believes he is the messenger sent with Hu Hu.
Going back to nature makes Panda Plan 2 more like Crocodile Dundee 2 than Die Hard 2, but it is better than Dundee 2. Though not as inspired as the fight scenes in and around zoo exhibits, Chan still choreographs funny fights with multiple opposing agendas.
The Chieftain's (Ma Li) son, Tu Tu (Yu Yang) leads some of the tribesmen to thwart Chan and Hu Hu because they want to be the saviors. Fight scenes utilize their set and weapons. In one, the tribe wants Hu Hu to climb a pole for a trial, and Jackie just wants to stop the tribespeople from prodding the animal with spears.
