Mufasa: The Lion King

Review by Mark Woodring

Another day, another “live action” adaptation from Disney.

In this case, it’s a prequel to the classic animated (and later “live action-ed”) tale of The Lion King.

I will not remind you about my general feelings about these things.

**NOTE: this post may be updated with audio once we actually have the chance to talk about it. Until then, you can read Mark’s review below. Remember, though, you can listen to all our discussions of this and every other movie directly over on ACAST. Stay tuned.**

Mufasa : The Lion King - Review
Mufasa : The Lion King (Disney)

 

120 Minutes, Rated PG
Written by Jeff Nathanson, Linda Woolverton, Irene Mecchi
Directed by Barry Jenkins

Synopsis:

Mufasa, a cub lost and alone, meets a sympathetic lion named Taka, the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of a group of misfits searching for their destiny.

 

As I said in a quick tweet before screening Mufasa in IMAX (best possible chance to show off),

“Honestly, not sure what I feel about this one going in…”

So, coming out, how did I feel?

I’m not going to beat around the bush on this one.

I don’t know that I could have enjoyed Mufasa less than I did.

The CGI animals look close to real, but are fake enough to to remind you in every single frame that this is not, in fact, “live action.”

Simba’s adult voice (Donald Glover, who voiced him in the 2019 “live action” remake) isn’t very kingly. Honestly, they should have just paid Matthew Broderick for the half-hour of work it would have taken to do the voice.

Generally speaking, the voice work here is underwhelming. Lines are delivered in a read-through cadence, and they’re reading some absolutely terrible dialog, filled with unsubtle callbacks and Easter Eggs that I forcibly rolled my eyes at. It’s just lifeless voices reading a lifeless script.

It’s no secret that Taka, Mufasa’s adoptive “brother” will become Scar. Worst secret in cinema. Also, the fact that Mufasa’s origin is similar to Moses’ can’t be overlooked.

The “Outsider” pride of lions, led by the only truly great voice in this cast, Mads Mikkelsen, are white, which makes me wonder if this isn’t a nod to the controversy when the original animated film came out about how it was basically ripping off Kimba, the White Lion.

Or, you know, it isn’t just a dig at White Colonizers.

Too bad Mads got stuck singing a song whose refrain is, I kid you not, “bye-bye.”

And speaking of the songs, for a project whose lyrics were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, they are all absolutely terrible. There’s not a catchy one in the bunch, and they’re about as memorable as that burger you had at that place that time when you were kind of drunk and hungry.

The opening number is basically, “Imagine there’s a Utopia over there!” but it manages to be less catchy than the theme from any Hallmark Christmas movie.

They. Are. Terrible.

I said it.

Timon and Pumbaa? Please; annoying as all get-out, with meta references to the first film and beyond.

Let. Meta. Go.

It’s the Multiverse of narrative tropes at this point.

And, just so the traditional internet haters don’t think I forgot about them, they are absolutely going to LOVE the woke, socialist speech Mufasa gives at the end after the defeat of the White Lions and his ascension to the throne of Milele (“Mi-LAY-lay”), the Utopia sung about in the opener.

But honestly, that’s the least surprising bit that makes this one terrible. It’s shoddy, generic, and forgettable.

Unfortunately, my screening was filled with families and (obnoxious, popcorn throwing) children who absolutely loved this movie, which means it will have a good-to-great opening weekend.

But watch for the drop-off.

I don’t give films stars, which is a good thing, because I’d be giving this one zero of them.

Mufasa: The Lion King roars into theaters on December 20, and features the voices of Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Blue Ivy Carter, John Kani, Mads Mikkelsen, Seth Rogan, Billy Eichner, Lennie James, Thandiwe Newton, Keith David, Donald Glover, and Beyonce.

And remember, if the BEST thing you can say about a movie is that it’s “visually stunning,” then they’ve done something wrong.

Please don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE, and FOLLOW us on:

And please, if you like what we do, consider helping us keep on entertaining you. You can use this handy link:




Or, you could check out the merch in Our Store:

VSMP Merch Store

Not only will you be helping us out if you pick up some merch, you get cool stuff to wear around (including the coveted WTFWT? logo!)


 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,