PRIDE & JOY
If you were concerned that Disney’s revamp of The Lion King wouldn’t live up to the 1994 original, hakuna matata... it’s a triumph
DISNEY’S remake of its own hand-drawn animated classic is majestic family entertainment wearing royal robes of extraordinarily lifelike special effects.
All creatures great and small are rendered in fabulous photorealistic CGI which emphasises an underlying environmental message, but never at the expense of the non-stop fun.
It’s reassuringly respectful to the 1994 original adventure and at times is a shot-by-shot remake, featuring the same characters and identical storyline.
Simba is an adorably cute lion cub whose mighty father King Mufasa rules the African savanna until he’s betrayed by his wicked brother Scar, who exiles Simba and takes the throne for himself, aided by an army of hyenas. As Simba learns the value of honesty, responsibility and friendship, he’s carried along by Elton John’s glorious songs, such as the stupendous opening track Circle of Life, and the irresistibly jolly sing-along tune Hakuna Matata.
Donald Glover voices the adult Simba and duets Can You Feel the Love Tonight
with global singing phenomenon Beyoncé, who is totally on-brand as Nala, his loyal, smart – and in the fiery finale totally fierce – mate.
Versatile Brit actor Chiwetel Ejiofor brings a masterful wounded eloquence as the voice of Scar, and as he growls his way through the musical call to arms Be Prepared, he reminds us of the singing prowess he showcased as a drag queen in 2005’s Kinky Boots.
Having become a father in the years since the first film, I was far more moved this time by Mufasa expressing the emotional burden of fatherhood, and by his trying to balance imparting knowledge while disciplining and protecting his son.
Meanwhile my eight-year-old son loved the farting and wisecracking sidekicks.
I’m clearly a bad dad as my son has never seen the original version, but we both loved the new one and gave this Lion King our loudest roar of approval.