Raya and the Last Dragon is not the best animated film of 2021
I never watched Raya and the Last Dragon when it hit theaters on March 5th this year. I also did not feel like shelling out $30 to watch it at home. The last time I did Disney+ Premier Access, it was for Mulan, which was a disappointment. But now I thought it was finally time to watch this movie since it is now FREE to stream on Disney+.
Synopsis
Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.
Everyone thought I was crazy when I said Netflix’s The Mitchells vs The Machines will be the best-animated movie of 2021. Apparently, I was correct. Raya and the Last Dragon is not horrible, but it does not deliver the typical Disney magic. It has received so much praise, but it is actually overrated.
Even though it is filled with vibrant landscapes, the animation looks a little pale and flat for a 2021 animated film. Everyone was boasting about how amazing the 3D water droplets looked, which is eyebrow-raising if that is the biggest takeaway from this movie. Kelly Marie Tran does a great job voicing Raya. Still, Awkwafina’s Sisu the Dragon gave me a bit of a headache, has a funky design, and does not give a memorable performance. This movie simply did not keep my attention. The plot was a bit messy and forced as well as predictable. It is a straight to streaming animated film that has no memorable scenes compared to many Disney classics.
Verdict
I give Raya and the Last Dragon a 7/10. I hope many of you waited to watch this film for Free on Disney+. It is not worth the extra cash to watch early or in theaters.
Read more Movie Reviews on Nerdtropolis.
Get Disney+.
Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.