#REVIEW: “MUFASA: THE LION KING”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Picking up a few years following 2019’s The Lion King, Simba (Donald Glover) leaves the Pride Lands to go on a mysterious mission to bring Nala (Beyoncé) back. Simba leaves their young daughter, Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), in the care of Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) and Timon (Billy Eichner). Thankfully for the rambunctious warthog and meerkat, Rafiki (John Kani) comes with a story to keep Kiara — and them — invested. Here, we are taken into Mufasa’s (Aaron Pierre) origins story, which is told in flashbacks through Rafiki’s verbal recounting.

Rafiki tells the story of a young cub who became an orphan following a flood that separated him from his parents. However, he was found by a sympathetic cub named Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), an heir to a royal bloodline. The family takes him in and the two young cubs quickly become close, considering each other brothers. But when outsiders come to kill Taka’s entire pride, Mufasa and Taka must flee. This takes the two on a journey to Milele: the place just on the horizon Mufasa’s mother told him about.

Screenwriters Jeff Nathanson, Linda Woolverton, and Irene Mecchi tell this well-crafted story through flashbacks. In doing so, we’re able to keep the beloved characters we know, such as Timon and Pumbaa, while creating attachment and understanding for characters who didn’t get a big spotlight in the original, such as Mufasa and Taka. Taka may sound like a new character, but you do know him by a different name. The Screenwriters do their best to keep his true identity a secret. But audiences familiar with the original will clue in quickly. After all, Mufasa only had one brother right? However, audience members who are younger or newer to the material will come to understand the identity in the third act.

By including this second origins story, the Filmmakers allow audiences to empathize with a character perceived to be evil. This is where this Film soars. While on their journey, Taka witnesses his brother Mufasa as a fearless leader. However, Taka’s fear makes him hide rather than be the courageous leader his bloodline tells him to be. Harrison Jr. delivers a powerful performance as this cub searching for his identity. So really, Mufasa: The Lion King is a dual origins story. One that allows us to understand that sometimes ‘evil’ is the result of someone’s internal pain.

Just like 2019’s The Lion King, the visuals here are outstanding. There are moments when you forget you’re watching CGI and believe you are observing real cubs on a journey. And how cute those cubs are! Director Barry Jenkins adds his flare to the visuals. When Mufasa jumps from a tree, the camera is placed as an attachment to him, allowing the audience to feel they are flying in the air with him, and the expansive landscape is beautifully captured by sweeping shots.

Then there are the original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Those familiar with his previous work will have an idea of the musical numbers within this Film. The Hamilton legend keeps his signature musical theatre style but merges it with something unique to this captivating world of The Lion King. Standouts are “I Always Wanted A Brother”, “We Go Together” and “Tell Me It’s You”.

Walt Disney Studios Canada release MUFASA: THE LION KING on Friday, December 20, 2024.