Mulan

In 1998, Disney decided to try its hand at turning a Chinese poem into a feature length film. The resulting film, Mulan, was well received, but still didn’t make nearly as much money as its Renaissance predecessors. Starring Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong, Donny Osmond, Harvey Fierstein, June Foray, Pat Morita, and George Takei, it made $304 million worldwide. It won several Annie Awards and was featured in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. But despite not being royalty by birth or marriage, Mulan part of the Disney Princess line. Jackie Chan also voiced Shang in the Chinese dub.

The Huns invade Imperial China, causing every family to receive a conscription order requiring one male from each household to serve in the army. Mulan (Wen) doesn’t want her aging veteran father to go to war again and disguises herself as a man to take his place.

This film could have been much shorter if you think about it. During “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” there’s a point where Mulan is discharged. Which means she could have gone home, her father saved. But it looks like a dishonorable discharge, and since the Chinese culture is all about honor, she stayed to prove herself. Which is what defines Mulan’s character. She’s not only determined to show that she has what it takes, despite being a woman, but she’s also resourceful and quick thinking. Her character isn’t completely relatable, as not all of us can or would take someone else’s place in basic training or war and many of us would turn back if we were disgraced like she was. Mulan as a character succeeds because of that lack of relatability.

The film also has a lot of great comedic timing, but it’s hampered in part because of Eddie Murphy’s role as Mushu. It doesn’t really fit and stands out way too much. We had a lot of other characters played by Chinese actors, why couldn’t Disney have gotten someone like Jet Li? Donny Osmond providing Shang’s singing voice is fine because he was able to, or made to, sound like BD Wong.

The meeting between the ancestors is also quite interesting, showing how those we perceive to be wise can be complete fools. And having it play out like a meeting at the retirement home gone out of control makes it even better. However, there is a point where the scene goes on for just a little too long. But not enough to completely ruin it. George Takei does very well as the first ancestor.

The music is good too, but what possessed Disney to have the final song be a duet between 98^o and Stevie Wonder?

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