Mufasa: The Lion King

Young lion cub Kiara (voice of Blue Ivy Carter) is unaware why her parents Simba (voice of Donald Glover) and Nala (voice of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter) have left just as a frightening thunderstorm begins to roll in, but she has warthog Pumbaa (voice of Seth Rogen) and meerkat Timon (voice of Billy Eichner) to amuse and distract her. Even better, Pride Rock's wise old mandrill Rafiki (voice of John Kani, "Black Panther's" T'Chaka, and Kagiso Lediga as his younger iteration in flashbacks) is on hand to tell her the tale of her grandfather, "Mufasa: The Lion King."

Laura's Review: B-

Director Barry Jenkins ("Moonlight," "If Beale Street Could Talk") takes the reins from Jon Favreau for one of the more convincing computer generated 'live action' films from Disney yet. Jeff Nathanson's (2019's "The Lion King," "Young Woman and the Sea") screenplay is not only a prequel, but an origin story for such characters as Rafiki, Sarabi (voice of Tiffany Boone), hornbill Zazu (voice of Preston Nyman) and Scar. Themes of blended families continue, but brotherhood is at the heart of this one as well as providing an emotional explanation for Kiara's parents' absence. Lin-Manuel Miranda provides the songs, but there is nothing as memorable as 'Hakuna Matata' here and several could have been excised for a leaner run time.

We're introduced to Mufasa (voice of Aaron Pierre) as a cub his proud dad Masego (voice of Keith David) says is the fastest, but the little lion's speed gets him into trouble when rain finally arrives to replenish a parched land. Dashing out for a drink, Mufasa is caught off guard by rising flood waters and with Masego swimming furiously in churning waters and Afia (voice of Anika Noni Rose) anxiously trying to guide him to solid footing, the little cub is washed away down river, far from home. Hanging onto a tree limb, the dejected cub is noticed by another, Taka (voice of Kelvin Harrison Jr.) teasingly warning him he's about to be eaten by approaching crocodiles. Scrambling up the river bank, the two cubs become fast friends, Taka declaring Mufasa his brother, but while Taka's mother Eshe (voice of Thandiwe Newton) is sympathetic towards the orphaned cub. his father, pride king Obasi (voice of Lennie James) declares him a dangerous stray who should be eaten immediately. Instead a race is suggested, Taka and his royal blood expected to win but holding back to save his pal. It should be noted that just like Simba after him, Mufasa appears to get over the trauma of being separated from his parents pretty quickly and Obasi is no substitute for Masego, Taka's dad content to sleep most of the day while Afia raises the little cub just like her own, Mufasa repaying the favor by saving her when a pride of white lions led by Kiros (voice of Mads Mikkelsen), intent on ruling everything he sees, attacks.

While much is made of Taka's royal lineage, it is consistently clear that Mufasa has the qualities to lead which Taka lacks and Obasi's warning to his son that Mufasa will betray him will fester. The threat from Kiros does lead Obasi to send his son away to reestablish their line and so he sets off with Mufasa in search of the legendary Milele beyond the horizon. Along the way, they'll meet lioness princess Sarabi (voice of Tiffany Boone), also on the run from Kiros with her guide bird Zazu and although Mufasa does everything to turn her attention toward his friend, a love triangle develops which will be read as betrayal by Taka, who, in fact, becomes the betrayer.

Our storyteller, too, enters the picture, embraced more quickly by Mufasa than Taka and leads the way, feeling Milele in his heart, confident in his vision (and ragged on by Pumbaa and Timon for becoming 'the star' of his own story). And we'll occasionally check back in with current day Rafiki, trying to keep on track while Timon and Pumbaa talk insider baseball, Rogen and Eichner providing laughs. If the original "Lion King" referenced Shakespeare, the prequel is an analogy for colonization, a white pride driving the lions off their land.

There are a lot of close-ups used here, one putting us right beside Timon on Pumbaa's back. The animals look startlingly alive (although it's a lot weirder to see 'real' animals break out in song than animated ones), the 'dead eye' problem mostly resolved. Some of the background visuals are a little suspect, one dreamscape imagining Milele overdoing colorful flowers and butterflies, but Jenkins introduces a snow covered mountain range to switch up traditional vistas and provide one last obstacle as well as a striking backdrop for evil doing. "Mufasa: The Lion King" begins with a tribute to the former voice of Mufasa, James Earl Jones, and his gravitas is missed, Glover's voice too high pitched for a mature Simba.

While I'm no fan of Disney's 'live action' remakes, only "The Jungle Book" having really delivered, "Mufasa" is a step up from its predecessor and good programming for families during the holiday season.

Robin's Review: B

Orphaned Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) is taken under the wing of young prince Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and given a home with Taka’s royal family, becoming the adopted son. He and Taka grow together like brothers as they search for their destiny in “Mufasa: The Lion King.”

I saw “The Lion King (1994)” on the big screen – not much choice back then – and enjoyed the “Circle of Life” theme and comical animals cracking funny. Since then, though, I have not a clue as to what happened, except, maybe a Broadway play. Going into “Mufasa,” I was a pretty blank slate but for knowing it being a prequel.

We meet young Mufasa as a terrible flood separates him from his mom and dad. He is rescued by Taka, the prince of a royal family pride, and taken home. The two young cubs become fast friends, even brothers, as the pride, except for the King, take him in as one of their own.

The King banishes Mufasa to be with the females in the pride. As such, he learns to hunt and develop all the talents his foster mother teaches. He becomes a formidable young lion until, one day, he is ordered to accompany Taka into the wilderness to find the fabled land of Milele. On the way, they meet Rafiki (Kagiso Lediga) the Mandrill baboon, banished from his tribe, who joins in their journey.

Danger looms in the form of a pride of fierce white lions who hunt down Mufasa and Taka and threaten the peace and safety of Milele. What follows will keep its young audience in suspense and very entertained (and maybe a bit scared).

I did not mention that “Mufasa” is a musical, which is a problem for someone like me, who does not like musicals, on film, stage or in the streets. The problem I have with musicals is, basically, there are too many darn songs. I like a straight narrative and, if they cut out all of the songs, we would have a tight, hour and twenty minute tale of the beginnings of the Lion King. That would have been more satisfying, at least to me.

Disney releases "Mufasa: The Lion King" in theaters on 12/20/24.