Mufasa - Always wanted a brother

 

Mufasa

2024

Genre: Animated musical

Director: Barry Jenkins

Stars:  Aaron Pierre, Donald Glover, Tiffany Boone, Kelvin Harrison Jr

Mohan's Measure ⭐⭐

Perhaps we can blame it on COVID.  All that social distancing has made us all wary of each other, and the feeling has become visceral, even in animated film.

Albeit well-acted and well-presented, the once awesome myth of lion kings and utopian plains where all live harmoniously,  is strangely off base somewhere.  There is a mechanical-ness to it all, a desire to make sure the art and CGI is perfect to the point that the soul and emotion is somehow gone.

This is felt most in the lead character.  The yet to be Lion King is seen as a young man who jumps from situation to situation without the slightest bit of emotion being felt.  That he expresses his love to the lioness whom his adopted brother loves is taken as matter of fact.  His winning her heart is also presented as mere fancy, the song rather ordinary compared to the sweeping romance of Disney past.  And, the great battle that climaxes all Disney film is fierce, but not emotional.  Of course, Timon and Pumbaa are there, but as they themselves state throughout, not enough of them is offered to fill this story with their humor. The only character who still carries the magic of the original is Rafiki, and I find myself enjoying only the parts where he is featured

Has Disney been taken over by Vulcans? Or is it our society has gotten so lost in political rhetoric and moral relativity that it fails to remember what it it means to see the world through a kid's eyes? How hard would it have been to fill the screen with cheerful banter by baby animals and doting parents, and charming characters who could make even us adults cheer on the heroes and boo the bad guys.  Disney did it once.  Let us pray they can do it again.