The Wasteland Reviewer

Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) Written Review

Who was excited about this new Disney prequel making its way into theaters? Not many for sure (at least not in the adult crowd). The 2019 The Lion King left a lot to be desired with its lifeless characters and animated style that lacks the charm of the hand drawn animated original. But Disney moved forward after that film made them $1.7 billion. This time, Rafiki (along with Timon and Pumbaa) tells Simba’s daughter, Kiara, the tale of her grandfather, Mufasa. This is a tale of a stray who longs for his family and finds a new one along with a brother who are destined to be rivals. 

Does getting a talent like Barry Jenkins behind the camera help the efforts for Mufasa: The Lion King? Jenkins is a talented filmmaker who brings depth and beauty to tough stories. Here, he is not expected to do that much in terms of depth outside of highlighting rich themes of community and family. The visuals of the film are quite impressive with a lot of effort going into this fully CGI animated fantasy. There is even a bit more emoting with the animal designs as well this time around. The action is quite exciting and thrilling as Jenkins does a great job of creating tension through how he shoots those sequences. There are affecting elements as well with the score (composed by Dave Metzger) which brings a lot of energy to the film. The songs from Lin Manuel Miranda are solid but certainly not his best work, which is a bit disappointing since The Lion King has plenty of iconic songs. The film is a bit loose in story and the film struggles with pacing as this one runs a full two hours. 

How is the writing for this big scale and big budget prequel? The story (as stated above) is a bit loose as it involves quite a bit of wandering (as well as singing). The core of the story centers around a well-constructed and well-developed brotherly connection between Mufasa and Taka (later Scar). The emotion centered around the evolving relationship is the heart of this film. Their conflict is a bit inconsistent with some conflict centered around tragedy (which works), but the rest is over a potential queen. This feels a little contrived for such an iconic conflict (but something that feels timeless for many dramas). There are a few other elements of the film that just don’t sit right when it comes to the storytelling. The lampshading of moments from The Lion King is quite obnoxious at times. The “Deus Ex Machina” ending to the climactic conflict is also frustrating. Finally, the framing device is a mixed bag. Is it necessary? No. This whole film could have been a traditional prequel without the added layers. But the dynamic between Rafiki and Kiara does help reinforce the themes of the film, but they are displayed a bit too plainly and obviously.

Does the cast help elevate this mediocre script? The less said about Donald Glover and especially Beyonce the better (fortunately, they are not in it much). But Blue Ivy Carter is doing a nice job being a charming little cub as Kiara. Rafiki is a standout in the film (whether it is Kagiso Lediga as a young version or John Kani). Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen are still great as Timon and Pumbaa even if their inclusion feels unnecessary. In the actual main story, Aaron Pierre does a fine job as Mufasa which says a lot as he must voice act in the shadow of James Earl Jones’ work. Kelvin Harrison Jr. is the more dynamic performer and stands out more as the film progresses and Taka becomes closer to Scar. Tiffany Boone does a fine job as well as young Sarabi who has great chemistry with Pierre for sure. Mads Mikkelsen has made a career out of playing villains in big budget flicks and he is fantastic here. Intimidating. Charming. A little funny. He just rolls with it and is having a great time. 

Is Mufasa: The Lion King a quality prequel (even if it was not requested)? It surely has its merits. This is a generally watchable and easy-going film. There are some big sprawling epic moments that will rouse the audience for sure. There are some funny and charming moments for sure. You might even buy into the corroding relationship between Mufasa and Taka that leads to one of the best betrayals in all of film. But in many ways, this is a serviceable and mediocre film that just feels like it is hitting some beats. You and your family might have a good time but not one that will last and sit with you. This is a tough task as well when you are trying to create a prequel to one of the most beloved animated films of all time, The Lion King.