Mufasa: The Lion King
December 18th, 2024
MOVIE: MUFASA: THE LION KING
STARRING: AARON PIERRE, KELVIN HARRISON JR. TIFFANY BOONE, MADS MIKKELSEN, SETH ROGAN, BILLY EICHNER
DIRECTED BY: BARRY JENKINS
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 STARS (Out of 4)
RATING: PG
RUN TIME: 120 MINUTES
The story of Mufasa: The Lion King is filled with external conflict, but perhaps the real struggle is for the audience. When Disney announced a “live-action” remake of The Lion King with computer-generated animals, a new voice cast, and a note-for-note retelling of the original, it was clear that the primary goal was not artistic innovation but rather maximizing profit. Jon Favreau’s 2019 version was a hollow spectacle, a soulless cash grab. And while Mufasa doesn’t quite reach that level of abomination, it still serves as a clear example of how corporate greed can hinder creativity. Director Barry Jenkins, who was once a beacon of artistic integrity after Moonlight, is tasked with navigating the tricky waters of this prequel. Unfortunately, Mufasa doesn’t offer much beyond a faint roar.
The film opens with a framing device: Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), daughter of Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé), being watched over by Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) as they settle in a cave to hear Rafiki (John Kani) narrate the origin story of Mufasa (Aaron Pierre). The tale follows Mufasa’s early life as an orphan, who lost his parents in a catastrophic flood, only to find brotherhood with Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). Alongside Sarabi (Tiffany Boone) and Rafiki, Mufasa embarks on a journey to find a paradise called Milele, all while contending with a vicious band of white lions led by the menacing Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen).
While Jenkins deserves credit for taking on such a monumental project—reworking an iconic story as a prequel—his efforts are ultimately stifled by a screenplay (written by Jeff Nathanson) that fails to justify the film’s existence. The concept of a grand adventure in the vein of Lord of the Rings or Indiana Jones is intriguing, and at times, Mufasa feels like it’s on the verge of becoming something special. However, the film’s distracting visuals and over-reliance on comic relief derail its potential. The computer-generated animation often looks no better than a direct-to-video pet movie, and the aesthetic choices, rather than feeling immersive, detract from the emotional weight of the story.
The screenplay also falters, weighed down by unnecessary Easter eggs. For instance, if you’ve ever wondered about the origins of Rafiki’s staff (and many haven’t), the film offers a lengthy detour to satisfy that curiosity. Meanwhile, Timon and Pumbaa’s slapstick antics, which might have worked in a lighter, more appropriate context, feel out of place here, slowing the pacing to a crawl. At times, the film lurches between different tones, losing focus and undermining its emotional stakes. The result is a predictable story—one that fans of The Lion King already know by heart—and one that, frankly, we didn’t need to see.
What’s most troubling about Mufasa, however, is that it represents a growing trend in cinema: the use of technology and digital effects in place of actual craftsmanship. Unlike hand-drawn animation or motion-capture performances like those in Avatar, this type of “live-action” film often feels sterile and disconnected. In a time when concerns about AI replacing human jobs are becoming more urgent, Mufasa stands as a glaring example of how the industry is moving away from the artistry of human-driven filmmaking. The actors, the stunt people, the costume designers—none of them are truly needed here. What remains is a film that feels like a product, engineered to appease audiences rather than challenge or entertain them in a meaningful way.
In the end, Mufasa is a minor success for Jenkins, but that success is only relative. It might be the best the project could have been, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth making. Mufasa: The Lion King may fill Disney’s coffers, but it leaves little impact on the audience. I’m not feeling the love tonight.
2 STARS
MUFASA: THE LION KING IS PLAYING IN THEATERS THURSDAY DECEMBER 19TH, 2024.
Written by: Leo Brady
