The prequel to “The Lion King” puts a lot of effort into answering the questions no one asked
When Disney’s CEO announced in February that the studio would rely more on “sequels and franchises,” he wasn’t kidding. This year alone, we already had Inside out 2 AND Moana 2. Enough now Mufasa: The Lion Kinga prequel to the 2019 live-action remake of the beloved 1994 cartoon.
Yes, we are talking about the prequel to a remake. And yes, it is as useless as the description suggests.
This silly slot machine might be worth watching on Disney+ if you’re a super fan The Lion King, but like many prequels, it spends a lot of effort answering questions no one asked. When did Simba, Mufasa’s father, meet his wife Sarabi? Where did Rafiki the Mandrill get the stick from? How did Zazu the hornbill become Mufasa’s right-hand man?
The film is directed by Barry Jenkins, Oscar winner for Moonlightand the songs are by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the most celebrated Hollywood and Broadway composer of his generation. So perhaps the more pertinent question is: don’t the extremely talented artists involved have anything better to do?
The big question the film answers, however, is how a young lion named Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) came to the Pride Lands with a friend who would become known as Scar (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) – and I can guarantee that no one he was wondering. this question, because it contradicts everything that has been established The Lion King.
In the original film, the central point was that Mufasa’s son Simba was part of a long line of monarchs who had protected the Pride Lands for generations, and that Mufasa’s younger brother Scar was frustrated with his position in the hierarchy. But apparently someone at Disney got upset with this feudal premise and decided to swap it for a more complicated, egalitarian origin story.
The problem is that this new democratic version fits the mythology so badly that the producers could have renamed the film “Mufasa: The Lion Prime Minister.” In Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
The film begins with the news that Simba (Donald Glover) and his wife Nala (Beyoncé) are having another baby. They disappear into the woods without telling their daughter Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter) where they are going or why. (The motivation behind this strange parental choice is never explained.)
Kiara’s charges are Timon, the meerkat (Billy Eichner), and Pumbaa, the boar (Seth Rogen), who stay with her in a cave while Rafiki (John Kani) tells the story of his grandfather Mufasa. After this unnecessarily long and complicated introduction, the main plot begins.
(Spoilers ahead)
It turns out that Mufasa is not descended from royal lineage, despite having a name that means “king”.
As a puppy he lives happily with his family until he suffers one of those childhood traumas so common to Disney: a flood kills his father and drags him to a distant region. There he meets the future Scar, a spoiled young prince named Taka.
The two grow up together as brothers, but soon face another childhood trauma. A group of white lions called Outsiders invade their territory and kill Taka’s father. Mufasa and Taka must flee, but it is already clear that one of them is becoming noble and courageous, while the other is becoming bitter and treacherous.
This series of unfortunate events raises more questions than answers. For example, why are so many parents killed in the franchise? The Lion King? Also, why did Rafiki think this disturbing story would be appropriate for the worried Kiara to hear?
The question we should be asking is whether Mufasa and Taka’s journey will take them to the Pride Lands before the Outsiders capture them, but obviously anyone who has seen The Lion King You know they get there, so there’s no tension.
Their odyssey includes several runs across fields and climbing trees – with the camera spinning so much you might need motion sickness medication – but the film never gains momentum.
At least there are some breathtaking views to take in along the way. Since Mufasa and Taka are in motion, the variety of colorful backgrounds is more eye-catching than the gray and brown backgrounds of The Lion King.
But the same can’t be said for the CGI animals, which are less natural and expressive than their 2019 counterparts. One problem is that the photorealistic lions don’t have very expressive faces nor do they look very different from each other.
This wasn’t as important in the 2019 film because the lions generally interacted with other species. But the new movie is about lions talking to other lions while being chased by other lions, which can be visually boring and confusing in identifying who is who.
The animation isn’t the only problem Mufasa: The Lion King. The truth is that the quality of all elements is inferior to that of their equivalents The Lion King.
Miranda’s songs showcase her talents with scansion and rhyme, but lack the catchy, karaoke-friendly melodies of Elton John and Tim Rice songs.
The dub cast also gets worse with each new movie. Rowan Atkinson voiced Zazu in 1994, John Oliver took over the role in 2019, and now we have Preston Nyman, who doesn’t have the same comedic talent as any of them.
Likewise, Scar was played by the great Jeremy Irons in the cartoon and by Chiwetel Ejiofor in the remake, while now we have Kelvin Harrison Jr., who isn’t sure what accent to use.
As for Aaron Pierre as the lead, it’s hard to believe his voice could ever transform into the deep, authoritative tones of James Earl Jones, who played Mufasa in the previous two films. This is as ridiculous as thinking that Jake Lloyd or Hayden Christensen could become Darth Vader.
The worst thing about the production is Jeff Nathanson’s boring script, which has Mufasa wandering around Africa, meeting members of the supporting cast, and having boring existential conversations that feel like therapy sessions. There are also regular breaks as the film ends with Rafiki telling the story, with Timon and Pumbaa cracking postmodern jokes.
These interruptions provide welcome comic relief, but are a reminder that there is very little humor in the main narrative. “This is killing me,” Pumbaa complains at one point. “I need a bathroom break!” Viewers will fully understand how he feels.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
