Review: Mufasa - The Lion King
The Story Of An Orphan Who Will Be King.
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film Mufasa: The Lion King. Keep in mind this is but one of the many movies I watch every year, and that whatever initial grade I come up for this film could change for better or worse with time. To better keep up to date with both my thoughts on other movies and if my feelings on this film changed, follow me on Letterboxd.
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THE PLOT
Via Letterboxd: Rafiki relays the legend of Mufasa to lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka, the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion a journey of misfits searching for their destiny and working together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.
QUICK REVIEW
I’ve touched on this before, but Disney’s live-action remakes of their animated classics have always been hit-or-miss for me. The 2019 remake of The Lion King firmly falls down there into the “miss” category. While the film boasts some of the most impressive visual effects for animals ever put on screen, it strips the characters of life and personality, leaving their expressions flat and draining the fun out of the musical numbers.
Given that, I wasn’t particularly excited about the idea of a prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King. Sure, the 2019 film resonated better with audiences than critics and made a ton of money, but a prequel? Really? Then came the announcement that Barry Jenkins, the Oscar-winning director of Moonlight and the criminally underrated If Beale Street Could Talk, would be helming the project. That news piqued my interest.
Many dismissed this film from the outset, joking that Jenkins took on the project out of desperation following the box office struggles of his previous work. However, I find those claims absurd. Jenkins has been clear about being drawn to the project after reading the script and seeing it as a challenge to step out of his comfort zone.
The skepticism surrounding the film’s existence made me wonder if some of the mixed reviews stem from preconceptions rather than the actual quality of the movie. Having watched it, I can confidently say this is not an outright bad film. Is it Jenkins’ weakest effort to date that I’ve seen? Easily. But a bad movie? No. If anything, Jenkins managed to turn what could have been another 2019-style disaster into a decent popcorn flick.
For starters, the animals actually display expressions and personality this time. The story is original and explores themes like finding your way home, the value of found family, and defining yourself against others’ expectations. The soundtrack has a few catchy moments, and the film offers intriguing insights into characters we already know. Certain scenes reach emotional peaks, and by the finale, I even found myself shedding a tear. Not to mention, the voice work is far superior to the previous film.
If there’s an MVP here, it’s Jenkins’ direction. His craftsmanship shines in how he frames key moments and elevates the material. His work here is leagues ahead of what we’ve seen in other live-action Disney remakes or spinoffs. Even those who can’t fully embrace the film would be hard-pressed to claim Jenkins phoned it in.
That said, the movie isn’t without its real flaws. While it’s livelier than its predecessor, the photorealistic style still hampers the musical numbers. Some story beats mirror the original too closely, with predictable character arcs. The soundtrack, composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is arguably his weakest to date. And the frequent comedic interruptions from Timon and Pumbaa feel unnecessary and would have been better left on the cutting room floor. I also found the pacing to feel a little rushed here-and-there, leaving a moment or two feeling a little less wighty than I feel like it should’ve been.
In the end however, Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel that doesn’t entirely justify its existence but still manages to easily surpass its predecessor. Thanks to Barry Jenkins’ direction, it’s an enjoyable enough popcorn flick that families can appreciate for a weekend afternoon matinee. I’d give it a straight up initial grade of B. It’s not one of the year’s best blockbusters, but it’s far from the worst either.
INITIAL GRADING
