As Disney continues to remake its most iconic animated movies into live-action, the question of their necessity only looms larger, though that has yet to deter the Mouse House just yet. 2019’sThe Lion Kingis one of the studio’s weaker efforts; with only animals populating the cast, the Jon Favreau-directed movie could barely pass as live-action and relied far too much on expressionless CGI characters to carry the beloved tale. Despite that, it also made a lot of money, leading to the creation of the prequel/sequelMufasa: The Lion King.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Cast
Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origins of the beloved character Mufasa, focusing on his youth as a lost cub who encounters Taka, a royal heir. Their meeting initiates an epic journey of self-discovery and destiny, featuring a group of misfit companions navigating the challenges of their world.
I’ll readily admit that I didn’t believe this was a movie that needed to be made, and I thought it would have all the same flaws its predecessor did. If there was one thing that gave me hope, it was the hiring of director Barry Jenkins, the filmmaker behind the history-making Best Picture winnerMoonlight.Surely he could find some genuine life in a sea of animated animals (let’s be real, this can’t qualify as live-action). Now, having seen the film,I’m relieved to say that he did.
Mufasa: The Lion King Tackles The Origin Story Of A Legend
Though The Future Looms Large
Mufasa: The Lion Kingisn’t without its flaws, but it manages to justify its existence by telling a compelling story. Framed as the tale wise old Rafiki (John Kani) tells young princess Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter) while she awaits the birth of her new sibling, the movie tracks the origins of the eponymous lion, who we know best as the regal figure voiced by the late,great James Earl Jones.Mufasaopens with a brief, but effective tribute to the icon. As a result, his presence lingers over the whole project.
Before he was king, Mufasa was a young cub (Braelyn Rankins) separated from his parents by a flash flood. Far downriver, he’s rescued from an alligator attack by the young prince known as Taka (Theo Somolu), who eagerly accepts Mufasa as his brother despite his father’s dislike of strays. Though he goes by a different name, there’s no hiding who Taka will become, or what he will eventually do to his beloved sibling.
Screenwriter Jeff Nathanson throws in plenty of references to Mufasa and Scar’s fatal showdown.The nods grow less effective over time, but that first shot of Taka digging his claws into Mufasa’s limbs, this time in an attempt to save him, is striking.
As Mufasa (Aaron Pierre as an adult) and Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) grow up, the latter poised to one day be king while the former serves as his protector, their bond only grows. It becomes all they can rely on when a pack of outsiders, led by the cruel Kiros (an appropriately menacing Mads Mikkelsen), invade, forcing the brothers to go on the run in search of a new home.Mufasa: The Lion Kingexpands its reach, serving as the origin stories of Rafiki (voiced by Kagiso Lediga in the past), Sarabi (Tiffany Boone), and even Zazu (Preston Nyman).
Mufasa’s Two Leads Live Up To High Expectations
Mufasa & Taka’s Relationship Is The Strongest Part Of The Movie
At times, I got the senseMufasadidn’t want to stray too far fromtheLion Kingstoryand the characters as we’ve come to know them. This is particularly exemplified by the oversized roles of Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), who are babysitting Kiara. Though they add comedic relief to a surprisingly heavy story,their meta jokes and constant asides break up the flowof Rafiki’s earnest storytelling in the present day.Mufasais at its strongest when it focuses on the doomed relationship between Pierre and Harrison’s adopted brothers.
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Stepping into Jones' legendary shoes is no easy task, butPierre voices Mufasa with a youthful gravitas that is perfectly pairedwith the lion he will someday become. I could hear shades of Jones within his performance, which only serves to deepen the depiction of the character. Taka starts as the more intriguing personality, if only because we have to wonder what will cause him to one day turn on the brother he so desperately wished for.
The answer is fairly underwhelming and leads to a frustratingly rapid descent for Taka, butHarrison voices his turn to villainy beautifully, similarly echoing his predecessors in the role while putting his own touch on it.
Mufasa’s Visuals Are Stronger Than Its Predecessor
And Its Soundtrack Comes Close To Matching Its Perfection
IfMufasa: The Lion King’s story structure and characterizations occasionally falter, the gorgeous visuals and resonant soundtrack make up for it. One of my biggest issues with the 2019Lion Kingwas rooted in the fact that the digitally rendered characters couldn’t emote the way animated characters do, leaving certain moments strangely lifeless. Here,Jenkins and his team have improved upon the animation, giving each character a genuine personality and spark.
There’s a real heart to Mufasa’s story, particularly when it grapples with how his legacy echoes in the present day.
The soundtrack for the originalLion Kingremains one of Disney’s best, and I won’t claimMufasasurpasses it, but it provides plenty of infectious songs all on its own, thanks toEncantoandMoanamastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda. Assisted by franchise veteran Lebo M.,Miranda brings his addictive melodies and spry lyricismto the movie and creates a soundtrack that can hold its own against the original.
I still wonder how much betterMufasa: The Lion Kingwould be if it was a traditionally animated movie, but there are many elements Jenkins gets right that I’m grateful I gave it a chance. There’s real heart to Mufasa’s story, particularly when it grapples with how his legacy echoes in the present day. At times, the movie is eager to do too much — I didn’t even touch upon the very brief appearances of Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter) — but when it hones in on its central character, it becomes something special in its own right.
Mufasa: The Lion Kingreleases in theaters this Friday, December 20. It is 120 minutes long and rated PG for action/violence, peril, and some thematic elements.
