‘Mulan’ film review: Darker tone, same inspiring themes
The latest live-action Disney remake takes a noticeably more grounded and somber tone with the action adventure 'Mulan' (available on Disney+ with Premier Access starting Sept. 4), a re-imagining that feels more like a Chinese ballad brought to life than a rehash of an animated movie.
In short: Young Chinese maiden Hua Mulan (Yifei Liu) disguises herself as a male warrior to take her ailing father's place when the Emperor orders each family volunteer one man per family join the Imperial Army. Stars Donnie Yen, Jason Scott Lee and Jet Li.
This 2020 update strips away the catchy songs and Eddie Murphy antics of the 1998 animated feature and comes up with something that is refreshing and familiar. Make no mistake, this is absolutely a war film - the first Disney remake to receive a PG-13 rating - but it remains faithful to the core of Mulan's journey, even if this adaptation is also noticeably more grim than its predecessor. Parents should take note that 'Mulan' is absolutely a war movie. While not nearly as brutal as 'Game of Thrones,' it does include several action sequences (albeit mostly bloodless combat) that might be a bit too violent for younger children. But for this story of a woman becoming a soldier, it would actually be weird if a live-action 'Mulan' eschewed on-screen battles. Disney deserves some credit for the willingness to step away from the elements that might work for a children’s animated film - such as a dragon sidekick and musical numbers - and creating something that fundamentally the same, but boldly and refreshingly unique from its predecessor.
It cannot never be repeated enough - one of the strongest and most elemental storytelling themes is identity. The trick of 'Mulan' is watching a protagonist embrace so confidently and assuredly who she is - and framing the rest of the film around characters dealing with who she is, as a warrior and as a woman. Even within the scope of a war backdrop, this is fundamentally one character's struggle to remain loyal, brave and true to herself.
Liu captures the poise, strength and conflict of this beloved Disney character, with a nuanced performance that radiates confidence in her abilities and a vulnerability in her choices. She is an even keel rock - and even if she's much smaller in stature than everyone else in her squad, Liu emanates a resolve and strength worthy of her fellow soldier's respect. Mulan is not as broadly demonstrative as other Disney protagonists, but Liu's refined performance always makes clear Mulan's genuine belief in her skills, her undeterred bravery and her love of her family. Perhaps the best compliment that can be paid to Liu's performance is that it will inspire every little girl to embrace their strengths and passions.
This battle-hardened take on 'Mulan' makes the character feel much more human and the stakes much more intense, however, the film's truly moving moments are few and far between. This has a lot to do with pacing and story issues, which being with the movie actually taking too long to get the plot moving along. Once the premise is in full swing, it's content being a prolonged training montage. Most pieces of the film don't quite resonate emotionally as they should. There's little to no spark or chemistry between Mulan and her love interest. Her fellow soldiers go from compatriots to faithful brothers-in-arms a bit too quickly - so it feels a little unearned.
The real question of the hour: is 'Mulan' worth the additional $29.99 Premier Access purchase on top of the normal Disney+ subscription fee? While this upfront cost may seem steep at first, it is worth noting that 'Mulan' is an epic, large scale adventure that should have been enjoyed on the big screen. But in an extraordinary year where new film offerings are scaled back, 'Mulan' is a refreshing and polished film that feels like a true blockbuster premiering on a streaming service. ('Mulan' will be free to Disney+ subscribers in December.)
Final verdict: Not as slavishly devoted as other Disney remakes, this live-action remakes's story adds dazzling, epic scale this wartorn Chinese empire, without compromising Mulan's personal journey.
Score: 3.5/5
'Mulan' releases on Disney+ with Premier Access starting Sept. 4, and available to all subscribers starting Dec. 4. This action-adventure is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and has a running time of 115 minutes.
