‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ – A passable prequel

His end is well known, but how he began is a mystery. Mufasa seeks to portray the myth of the lion king with a near biblical reverence. While the 2019 film was a technical marvel, it lacked the soul of the 1994 animated original, with subpar performances of some of the most iconic songs. Thankfully, Mufasa finds its way to tell its story with real heart, despite some glaring interruptions.

The movie begins with far too much from the 2019 photorealistic remake of The Lion King. Donald Glover returns as Simba, along with Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumba. The comedic sidekicks are a looming presence in the film, threatening the audience with their re-emergence as John Kani’s Rafiki attempts to tell us the story we came to see despite their jarring commentary grinding the film to a screeching halt.

That story is of Mufasa as a young lion cub separated from his loving parents and adopted by a pride of lions at the behest of his new brother Taka. Taka and Mufasa are thick as thieves, with the movie endearing you to their bond despite knowing the tragedy that’s doomed to befall them in The Lion King.

As much as Taka and Mufasa have great chemistry in the film, with Aaron Pierre and Kevlin Harrison Jr playing off each other well, you’re constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. Watching the friendly origin of a rivalry is a goldmine of tension that’s been done better in films like this year’s Transformers One and 2011’s X-Men First Class. What’s missing from Mufasa: The Lion King is that element that makes you wish the ending didn’t have to happen even though you know it will. By the time it happens, it’s less stupefying and feels more like a foregone conclusion.

Where the film falls short narratively, its technical aspects are a thing of wonder. The live-action aspect of the film is done far better than its 2019 predecessor, and the presence of visual storytelling is incredible, with some amazing shots. Not to mention a soundtrack that’s got catchy earworms you won’t be able to forget, no matter how hard you try.

Mufasa: The Lion King isn’t a perfect prequel, but it’s one that takes a beloved character and makes something special out of it, despite its weaker elements.

Rating: Half Price

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.