Movie Review: ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’

Opening in theaters on December 20th, ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ represents Disney’s latest trip to the animated canon-to-live-action watering hole. Of course, “live-action” in this case is a slight misnomer as every blade of grass or twist of hair on screen is brought to life with impressive, photorealistic CG.

But even with a filmmaker as talented as Barry Jenkins in charge, what transpires feels like a waste of his time and energy, since the storyline is so generic as to become tiring.

Will ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Rule the Cinematic Experience?

Mufasa (voiced by Braelyn Rankins) in Disney’s 'Mufasa: The Lion King'. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

When Jon Favreau brought the world the 2019 version of Disney animated classic ‘The Lion King,’ he did so with plenty of verve and the musical stylings of Beyonce added to the power of the original music.

But here’s the question –– did anyone truly, really need to learn how Pride Rock came into being or why everyone calls Scar “Scar,” besides the obvious reason? Like with some other prequels, the movie ultimately rattles off a tiring list of callbacks and nods that can’t paper over the cracks of an entirely predictable story. And not just because you know how it ends, and you’re never particularly worried about anyone involved since we’ve all seen the next chapter.

Even the music, this time provided by ‘Hamilton’ genius Lin-Manuel Miranda (who was so effective on ‘Moana’) is less than thrilling.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) and Taka (voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.) in Disney’s live-action ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Perhaps the biggest issue for the new movie lies in Jeff Nathanson’s script. You can practically fill in a bingo card when it comes to references to the original, and if you’re keeping count of every time someone says “everything the light touches” you’d fill two sides of A4 paper. It’s prequelitis at its worst.

The story of how Mufasa lost his own family but discovered another one (and then largely lost that) all while seeking a promised land where everything will be better is so basic as to be laughable in places.

(L to R) Pumbaa (voiced by Seth Rogen) and Timon (voiced by Billy Eichner) in Disney’s live-action ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Still, there are some positives to be found –– the intercut moments featuring Pumbaa, Timon, Rafiki and Kiara (daughter of Simba and Nala) are at least more entertaining and poke fun at the franchise in general.

Jenkins is an accomplished, proven director, but the demands of the technology and fitting his square peg soulfulness into the edges-shaved round hole of Disney at its most rudimentary is rarely a situation that work for either.

Cast and Performances

The adoptive brothers of Taka (soon to be known as Scar) and Mufasa are the focus, but there are other roles to be considered too.

Aaron Pierre as Mufasa

Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) in Disney’s live-action 'Mufasa: The Lion King'. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Pierre, so good this year in ‘Rebel Ridge’ and before that in Jenkins’ TV series ‘The Underground Railroad,’ does what he can with the role, and brings the young(er) Mufasa to life with some depth and emotion.

He may not be James Earl Jones (Mufasa’s legendary original voice, who scores a warm tribute at the start of the movie), but he’s a decent substitute.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka

(L to R) Taka (voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.), Sarabi (voiced by Tiffany Boone), Rafiki (voiced by Kagiso Lediga), and Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) in Disney’s live-action ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Harrison Jr. has more to play as Taka, since his character gets to be first enthusiastic and then bitter, forming the basis for what will become Scar.

He certainly wrings some emotion out of the role, even if he’s a little undercut by logic issues –– despite one moment late on, you really can’t believe why Mufasa would keep him around.

Tiffany Boone as Sarabi

(L to R) Sarabi (voiced by Tiffany Boone), Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre), Rafiki (voiced by Kagiso Lediga), and Taka (voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.) in Disney’s live-action ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Sarabi –– the future Queen of Pride Rock –– serves mostly here as love interest for Mufasa and object of obsession for Taka, and while Boone’s performance is sweet and heroic, the role is rarely satisfying.

Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros

Kiros (voiced by Mads Mikkelson) in Disney’s live-action 'Mufasa: The Lion King'. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Mikkelsen, here back on villain duty, is essentially just a snarling plot device who threatens our heroes. He’s the role model for Scar’s eventual personality, and while Mikkelsen always gives good antagonist, the character’s something of a cipher.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Kiara (voiced by Blue Ivy Carter) and Simba (voiced by Donald Glover) in Disney’s live-action ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In a world where ‘Wicked’ can serve as an effective and emotionally fulfilling prequel to ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ you really would hope for more from a ‘Lion King’ origin tale.

Yet sadly, this is merely not embarrassing, providing little that is truly unexpected and settling for a Greatest Hits of ‘Lion King’ lore.

‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ receives 5.5 out of 10 stars.

“The story of an orphan who would be king.”

PG1 hr 58 minDec 20th, 2024

Showtimes & Tickets

Rafiki relays the legend of Mufasa to lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the… Read the Plot

What’s the story of ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’?

‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ enlists Rafiki (John Kani) to relay the legend of Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) to young lion cub Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), daughter of Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter), with Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka — the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny — their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.

Who stars in ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’?

Aaron Pierre as Mufasa

Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka

John Kani as Rafiki

Seth Rogen as Pumbaa

Billy Eichner as Timon

Tiffany Boone as Sarabi

Donald Glover as Simba

Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros

Thandiwe Newton as Eshe

Lennie James as Obasi

Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala

Preston Nyman as Zazu

Anika Noni Rose as Afia

Keith David as Masego

(L to R) Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre), Young Rafiki (Kagiso Lediga), Taka (voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Sarabi (Tiffany Boone) in ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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