Simba and Nala have given birth to Kiara, their first cub, who has been left in the care of Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa while they must leave Pride Rock. Rafiki tries to soothe the nervous cub by telling the story of her grandfather, Mufasa, a young lion who came from nothing, having been adopted into a pride of lions after being separated from his parents by Taka, a young lion being set up to become king of his pride. When a tribe of vengeful white lions sets its sights on Simba and Taka, the two must flee, meeting new friends and encountering unexpected hurdles along the way, setting Mufasa up to take his eventual place as Pride Rock’s king, and the father of Simba.
The 2019 photo-real remake of THE LION KING received a mixed reception; this fan could take it or leave it, seeing it as something of a missed opportunity. I’ll be the first to admit I wasn’t thrilled to hear of a sequel/prequel of sorts utilizing the same questionable technology, but decided to give it a chance anyhow. MUFASA has its share of flaws, but it’s also surprisingly hard-hitting and entertaining at times, likely being the best film in THE LION KING series since the 1994 original.
One of the biggest criticisms of the 2019 remake of THE LION KING was the fact that the photo-real technology, while amazing looking, prevented the characters from showing any real emotion or expression; this was something the 1994 original excelled at. Apparently the animators at Disney learned their lesson this time around. The photo-real characters have far more on their faces this time around in terms of conveying their feelings and the like, which right from the get-go works to the movie’s advantage. Several cast members return from the 2019 film, including Donald Glover as Simba (featured here in more of a supporting role), Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, and Beyonce as Nala (again, relegated to more of a supporting role due to the “flashback” nature of the film. Newbies to the scene include the always great Mads Mikkelsen voicing the villainous white lion Kiros, Aaron Pierre voicing the title character (taking over from the late James Earl Jones), and Thandiwe Newton as a lioness who adopts Mufasa. The Pride Lands have never been more alive; the movie looks and sounds worthy of a king.
Although the character names look familiar, the best thing about MUFASA is that it’s an original film and not a remake. We see the titular lion from his days as a cub, being adopted by a pride of lions that also includes Taka (any true fan of this series will know who he eventually becomes) and embarking on a perilous journey that will culminate with him finding his place in the world. The film is surprisingly dark and desolate at times, and there are some great moments for the characters to shine. Taka, in particular, becomes one of the more interesting and conflicted ones, and his moments in the latter half of the film make him even more intriguing. Did you ever wonder how Mufasa first came into contact with the likes of Sarabi, Zazu, and Rafiki? While the movie’s a bit overstuffed at times (some characters are largely swept aside without a second thought), that’s all here. It’s a fun journey that’s never boring, and it’ll entertain young and old alike.
That said, there are two flaws that work against the otherwise solid film. The first is the framing device that’s utilized as a means of storytelling, with Rafiki telling the story to young Kiara. Not to knock Kiara (she may very well be the cutest CG animal ever created), but these interludes feel unnecessary, and Timon and Pumbaa’s humor in said sequences feels horribly out of place and more a detriment than a benefit. Normally I love these two, but this is the rare film in THE LION KING franchise that could’ve used less of them. The other issue is the lack of memorable songs. Lin-Manuel Miranda is one of the most talented songwriters working in the entertainment world today, but when I walked away from MUFASA, I couldn’t remember a single song. Thankfully, the movie doesn’t overdo it with music, but if you’re expecting another “Circle of Life,” “Hakuna Matata,” or “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” it’s not here. Oh well. Maybe these tunes will grow on me with repeat viewings.
I definitely found myself liking MUFASA more than I thought I would; it’s not the cheap cash-in sequel/prequel I was expecting. Beautifully animated and featuring some fine voiceover work, it only falters in terms of the unnecessary framing device and lack of memorable music. Still, it’s probably my favorite film in THE LION KING series since the first one hit theaters back in 1994. If you’re looking for some quality holiday season entertainment, MUFASA is a fantastic adventure the whole family can enjoy. Highly recommended!