Mufasa: The Lion King Review: Be Prepared for Aesthetic Mediocrity

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As a film critic with over 30 years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of prequels, sequels, and spin-offs that try to rekindle the magic of an original masterpiece. Some have succeeded, while others have left me longing for the days when cinema was fresh and innovative. Mufasa: The Lion King falls squarely in the latter category.

From the Oscar-winning director of Moonlight comes a live-action Disney animated movie. It’s a surprise to anyone familiar with Barry Jenkins, whose work has previously been prestigious awards-worthy films like If Beale Street Could Talk. But he’s surprising us all with the family film of the holidays with Mufasa: The Lion King. This film is a sequel/prequel to the 2019 live-action remake that nobody really asked for, but when you gross over $1.6 billion worldwide, you’re going to get a follow-up. Unlike Disney’s recent live-action movies, this film is not a remake. We have an original story that follows how Mufasa became a brother to Scar and how he became king.

In a fresh take, we can say that Mufasa significantly surpasses its earlier version as Jenkins brings a more impactful directorial touch than Favreau. The film is rich with themes of bond, loyalty, and deception, but it falls short in delivering an emotionally resonant narrative. This movie doesn’t quite manage to provoke laughter or tears, instead eliciting mostly the response, “The movie looked stunning.” To put it plainly: Both new versions of The Lion King boast remarkable CGI effects. However, this film introduces a notable improvement over its predecessor – more expressive facial animations.

As a fan, I found the 2019 film a bit lacking as it made the animals overly realistic and devoid of emotions, even when called for. However, Mufasa manages to enhance this aspect by displaying their expressions – smiles, fear, and more – all while maintaining a sense of realism. Yet, it’s disappointing because despite being an astoundingly technical masterpiece this year, the absence of 2D animation is felt deeply. The film’s ongoing pursuit of photorealism means that musical numbers lack the vibrancy they should have. Since we can only show realistic animals performing realistic actions in realistic settings, the energy seems somewhat muted.

In a slightly different phrase, it feels oddly unrealistic to watch a nature-themed movie where animals converse in English. The visual spectacle is undeniably stunning, yet something about the 2D and even 3D animation lacks the charm found elsewhere. However, the character of Mufasa offers a fresh perspective on characters we’ve known for three decades. This film delves into Mufasa’s origins, revealing that he was adopted by Taka, who later became the notorious Scar.

In this movie, several intriguing concepts are presented. A memorable scene from the original Lion King featuring the brothers is echoed early in Mufasa: The Lion King, given that this story takes place prior to The Lion King. This prequel enhances their bond by providing a deeper emotional background to a scene we’ve known for years, offering fresh insight into its context. Early on, Mufasa experiences tragedy, which makes his subsequent brotherhood with Taka all the more heartwarming. Despite knowing the eventual outcome of their relationship, the journey to get there is both bittersweet and occasionally captivating.

The issue lies with the storytelling structure, which doesn’t seem to flow smoothly. Since this is a follow-up, events unfold after the initial movie, where Simba and Nala have welcomed a child named Kiara, mirroring the name from The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride. Blue Ivy Carter, daughter of Beyoncé, who voices Nala, lends her voice to Kiara. However, some might find this casting choice questionable due to familial ties, but it wouldn’t be as contentious if Beyoncé had a more significant role in this movie. Regrettably, with the limited lines she has, her time in the recording booth likely didn’t exceed a couple of hours. Carter delivers an acceptable performance as Kiara, yet the narrative device fails to create an emotional connection effectively, especially during its final moments.

As a gamer, I’m excited to dive back into the world of The Lion King with Timon and Pumbaa, once again brought to life by the spot-on performances of Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen. While their humor is still entertaining, it doesn’t quite match the level of hilarity found in the original film. They serve as your boisterous sidekicks, constantly interrupting and commenting on the narrative as you weave your tale. However, after a while, their antics start to feel repetitive.

Instead of focusing on the main tale, let’s discuss Lin-Manuel Miranda’s work. He’s a remarkable songwriter, one of the busiest musicians over the past decade. In my view, there are three types:

On occasion, Jenkins skillfully maneuvers the camera, particularly when it comes to capturing his animal subjects in close-ups. He occasionally strives to create a more authentic feel for the camera positions to emphasize these animals’ reality. This technique is effective at times, and it shines brightest during the action-packed scenes of Mufasa: The Lion King. The vocal performances by Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr., who previously worked together in Genius: MLK/X, are outstanding, and they convincingly portray younger, less experienced interpretations of James Earl Jones and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Preston Nyman, as Zazu, is a standout among the impressive cast, perfectly embodying the spirit of this character.

This movie boasts many impressive aspects, yet there are areas that could have been stronger. The plot lacks unexpected twists. After watching numerous prequels depicting the transformation of friendships into enmity, such as X-Men: First Class or this year’s Transformers One, you can predict where this film is heading. Mads Mikkelsen has had an illustrious career, gracing roles in Star Wars, Marvel, James Bond, Harry Potter universe, Indiana Jones, Hannibal, and now The Lion King. He excels in villainous roles and delivers a solid performance, even if his character didn’t leave a deep impression on me. Tiffany Boone gives her best, but the character of Sarabi seems rather unremarkable.

2019’s The Lion King laid the foundation for a more intricate storyline between Scar and Sarabi, making their evolving relationship plausible, although not always emotionally resonant. At times, it seems as though the characters are being guided by the script rather than acting independently. Despite Nicholas Britell’s competent musical composition and some effective scenes, Mufasa: The Lion King is a blend of strengths and weaknesses, often inconsistent, and featuring melodies that may not stick in your memory for long.

SCORE: 5/10

According to ComingSoon’s review policy, a score of 5 signifies “Average” or “Mediocre.” In these reviews, the pros and cons often balance out, resulting in an overall neutral evaluation.

Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Mufasa: The Lion King review.

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2024-12-17 20:10