Mulan – Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

Mulan is now available on Disney+ via Premier Access

After being delayed for several months, Disney’s live-action Mulan is skipping the theaters. It is headed straight to Video On Demand via Disney+ Premier Access. For those that don’t want to shell out, you can wait until December for this film. It will be available for free to all subscribers.

Synopsis

When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner strength and embrace her true potential.

Visually beautiful, this live-action adaption strays away from what made Disney’s 1998 animated feature such a big hit. With no songs and no Mushu, younger kids and those with a strong connection to Mulan will face disappointment.

Outside of the lead, played by Liu Yifei, this movie has an all-star cast. It consists of Tzi Ma, Donnie Chen, Jason Scott Lee, and Jet Li. Unfortunately, that was not enough to make this movie a success. I believe poor storytelling, pacing, and direction made this $200 million version of Mulan a flop for Disney standards. This could be Disney’s worst live-action adaptation. It is unfortunate since it is such a great story, but younger children may get bored watching. There is not much heart and emotion to pull you into this movie. It is not until the end, and the last act is where all the big action and excitement occur. There is a surprising cameo that put a big smile on my face, and hopefully, all the Disney fans will catch it.

Verdict

I give Mulan a 7 out of 10. I hope all the families that decide to shell out the $30 will watch Mulan get their money’s worth from this lackluster blockbuster.

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