Film Review: MUFASA: THE LION KING (2024): An Honorable and Energetic Live-Action Prequel from Disney and Director Barry Jenkins
Mufasa: The Lion King Review
Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) Film Review, a movie directed by Barry Jenkins, written by Jeff Nathanson, Linda Woolverton and Irene Mecchi and starring Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Blue Ivy Carter, John Kani, Mads Mikkelsen, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Theo Somolu, Donald Glover and Beyonce.
It has been a disappointing year at the box-office for good prequels. Transformers One told an origin story of Optimus Prime and now Mufasa: The Lion King tells the story of how Mufasa, our fearless “original Lion King,” came to become king. Call director Barry Jenkins’ hugely enjoyable, Mufasa: The Lion King simply The Lion King One, if you will. It should pick up traction at the box-office in the coming weeks because it’s a solid adventure film.
Though Jenkins’ new movie is light on plot, it keeps the action moving briskly jumping from scene to scene with precision and fluidity even though the humorous references to the Broadway musical version of The Lion King are wholly unnecessary and unjust. Talk of how one of the characters looks like a sock puppet on-stage in the musical is just goofy here. But, moving forward, Mufasa, himself, is a strongly developed character and I enjoyed his story more than that of Simba’s in the original The Lion King cartoon although that 1994 movie had much better songs which almost evens things out. This new prequel opens with a homage to James Earl Jones that is simply inspired as we hear the legendary voice the great actor possessed.
As Mufasa: The Lion King begins its main story line, Kiara, Simba’s daughter, begins to be told by Rafiki about how Mufasa (mostly voiced by Aaron Pierre) rose above his calling to become King. Turns out, Mufasa was separated from his family by a flood and came to be saved from hungry baby alligators by Taka (eventually the voice of Kelvin Harrison Jr.). Of course, Taka grew up to become the vicious “Scar” and those who know the story know that it didn’t end too well. But, here, the film develops the bond that is formed between Mufasa and Taka as they befriend one another and eventually encounter a group of white lions headed by the vicious Kiros (a fine Mads Mikkelsen).
Of course, there’s a love interest to come between Mufasa and Taka and that is the character of Sarabi (a well-chosen Tiffany Boone). Mufasa pretends Taka saved Sarabi’s life at one point to help a “brother” out, so to speak, but Sarabi eventually learns the truth and forges a deep connection with Mufasa which complicates an already complicated situation even more. Kiros seeks to take Taka over to his side and Kiros wants vengeance for a key plot development that occurs in the early portion of the picture.
Queen Eshe (the always reliable Thandiwe Newton) is Taka’s mom, by the way and she’s a very headstrong character here within the early parts of the story line. Eshe was accepting of Mufasa even though King Obasi (Lennie James) wanted Mufasa to simply stay with the girls. Tragedy eventually strikes and Mufasa and Taka must use their wits to survive in the middle stages of the movie until the plot takes over and gets more heavy-handed with a major elephant sequence, a giraffe or two for good measure, snowy mountain sequences and just enough action to scare the very little ones but keep the adults entertained. Go figure.
Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner do their humorous antics as Pumbaa and Timon, respectfully. A little of those guys go a long way and thankfully the movie doesn’t focus too much on them except in transitional sequences that progress the story along. Instead, Mufasa: the Lion King is truly a character-focused film that doesn’t make the action scenes exist with no rhyme or reason. There’s a purpose for all the plot points that happen here thanks to the way Jenkins keeps the momentum of the movie flowing so well.
The primary voice-over cast simply can’t be beat. From Aaron Pierre’s very distinct Mufasa to Kelvin Harrison Jr.’s insecure and initially timid Taka, the characterizations are on-point. I only wished there was more of a story line that had more things happen of great significance. Since we know where the story is going, there is precious little in terms of big twists and turns that suggest we may not get to the final outcome we all know and that detracts from the overall quality of the picture.
Still, Mufasa: the Lion King is an adventure movie like no other. It does honor the legacy of James Earl Jones and will please fans of The Lion King original cartoon and the 2019 live-action movie. Jenkins keeps the film’s heart in the right place despite the problems the main characters have. Their falling out does become heartbreaking in its excesses but the show must go on as the story typically goes and this new film will entertain viewers and then some this holiday season with its roaring action and sensitivity.
Rating: 7/10
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