'Mulan' Review: Disney's live-action remake is a lukewarm offering that we can live without
There is a reason why the 1998 animated feature, 'Mulan' was, or rather is the center of much Disney discourse. Mulan marched in with her head held high, overtaking all the other Disney princesses, Jasmine, Aurora, Belle, and Ariel. While Aurora, Belle, Ariel an Cinderella were doe-eyed and dreamy awaiting their Prince Charming, Jasmine did have a little spark in her, but was left as a love interest.
'Mulan' saw our heroine tread on rather unchartered waters. She wasn't waiting for her man, instead, she was set to fight in the army, dressed as a man. She was a woman, finding her foothold in the world of men, and yet, managing to soar above them. She carved an independent status of herself, and so Disney applauded itself for its rather unusual departure in their female characterizations. It is still debated whether 'Mulan' has entirely feminist, or whether it was reinforcing stereotypes. But that's a conversation for another day.
That was 1998. Now it's 2020, and Mulan is back, but not as the beloved animated feature. It's the live-action remake, another exhaustive effort by Disney to bank on the nostalgia of those who grew up with these beloved characters. The story is the same, a steely-willed woman decides to fight in the army, dressed as a man. Live-action remakes are usually met with trepidation because many prefer to hold on to the animated classics, rather than accept the live-action films, that seem soulless and rather unecessary, 'Lion King' and 'Beauty And The Beast' being cases in point. And now we have 'Mulan'.
Is it worth a watch? Well, it depends. How big a fan are you of the animated classic, and how willing are you to see a rather dark and humorless take on the film?
Let's put this out straight, 'Mulan' is a gorgeous cinematic masterpiece, with an empowering Liu Shifei as the lead to carry the film through. The costumes are pleasant, and the martial arts sequences are fun to watch. But you're left with a feeling of... what's a better way to put it, other than 'meh'? Well, it feels bland and fails to muster any sense of awe, even though it has powerful scores in the background to impress upon you, that indeed something fabulous is coming your way. But it doesn't. It becomes a bit of a preachy and sermonising couple of hours about being true to oneself, as well as loyalty.
There are no songs to liven up the film or to add even a little cheer, though some lines from the songs are sneaked into dialogues. It doesn't have quite the same effect, though. 'Reflection' plays in the background and does little to charm the worn-out heartstrings. The introduction of a new villain, a sorceress, played by Gong Li, does provide for a little surprise. She and Mulan have grand face-offs, as she pushes Mulan to realize the depth of her 'deception'. However, there isn't much time to enjoy the scenes between the two, as we keep moving through the story that prefers not to touch the emotional chords. Of course, we miss Eddy Murphy's Mushu, the witty dragon. There's a phoenix instead, and it's not snarky, to say the least.
The question is, should you watch 'Mulan' because you're a fan of the animated classic and want to see what it's like in live-action? Or should you just set aside all your hopes and expectations and decide to watch a film that delves into the ballad of Fa Mulan, the actual Chinese warrior? Well, you're disappointed on both counts, because by the second half everything seems rushed, and the characters are hardly fleshed out. It almost seems mechanical and appears lackluster despite the vibrant and idyllic backdrops.
It's a lukewarm offering that has a few spices in it, but not enough for you to gobble the whole dish at once. It's too much to ask Disney to let the animated classics retire in peace, so we'll just wait to have to wait for the next live-action film.
Directed by Niki Caro, 'Mulan' is now streaming on Disney Plus.