Mufasa: The Lion King Review - There's Real Heart To Mufasa's Story & Visuals Are A Lot Better
In the opening scene of Mufasa: The lion King, Rafiki (John Kani) tells kiara (Simba's daughter), Timon, and Pumbaa the tale of Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre), describing how the once-normal cub overcame his weaknesses and outsider status to become a king. After being split up from his parents by a flood, Mufasa finds himself in unfamiliar circumstances and encounters Taka [Kelvin Harrison Jr.], who later turns into Scar. Young Mufasa and Taka's relationship begins as brotherly affection but develops into competition throughout their trip to Milele.
I sometimes had the impression that Mufasa didn't want to deviate too much from the lion King narrative and the characters as we have grown used to them. The exaggerated roles of Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), who are watching kiara, are prime examples of this. Their meta-jokes and incessant asides disrupt the flow of Rafiki's sincere narrating in the present, even as they provide humorous respite to a surprisingly weighty subject. The disastrous bond between Pierre and Harrison's adoptive brothers is the central theme of Mufasa.
On the plus side, the images are amazing. Disney's photo-realistic animation once again vividly depicts the Pride Lands in breathtaking detail. The film is a visual feast, from the vivid savanna vistas to the finely crafted character emotions. The lions' incredibly subtle emotions give an otherwise unimpressive story a feeling of gravity.
Another feature is the vocal cast. With his sincere portrayal, Aaron Pierre conveys Mufasa's power and sensitivity, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. gives Scar additional levels of tension and envy. Rafiki, played by john Kani, connects the prequel to its predecessor by bringing love and nostalgia.
The inability of the digitally produced characters to react as animated characters did, which left several scenes seem lifeless, was one of my main complaints with the 2019 lion King. The animation has been enhanced here by Jenkins and his crew, who have given each figure a true personality and flare. Thanks to Encanto and Moana composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, the original lion King soundtrack is still among Disney's greatest, and while I won't say Mufasa tops it, it does have a lot of catchy tunes.
Overall, Disney's Gamble Pays Off Once Again As There's Real heart To Mufasa's Story!
Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐☆