‘Mulan’ Review: An Epic, Breathtaking Adventure That More Than Justifies Its Existence

Let’s get this out of the way: Mushu the dragon is not in the new Mulan movie. Nor is “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” or any of the songs from the 1998 cartoon, unless you count the instrumental callbacks that are woven through the film’s score. Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan—which premieres on Disney+ tomorrow for a premium fee of $30—is far from a shot-for-shot remake of its animated counterpart. And that’s a good thing.

From the opening scene, director Niko Caro signals this will be a new version of Mulan. It is, after all, an ancient story, and not one invented by Disney. Told through the point of view of Mulan’s father (played by the excellent Tzi Ma, most recently seen in The Farewell), we meet Mulan as a young child, who, we’re told, has the gift of chi. In traditional Chinese culture, chi is an energy flow, which in Mulan’s case, makes her a supernaturally talented martial artist. (If that sounds a bit Star Wars-y, remember that George Lucas based The Force on Eastern mythologies, not the other way around.)

Mulan’s father doesn’t have the heart to tell his daughter she can’t use her chi as a man would, so Mulan (now played by Yifei Liu) grows up dreaming of becoming a warrior, not a wife. Meanwhile, in another part of China, another woman with the gift of chi struggles to be seen as legitimate. This is Xian Lang (Gong Li), a so-called witch who allies herself with the familiar villain Bori Khan (Jason Scott Lee). More on her later, as she is by far the most interesting new character.

There are, of course, the parts of the story you already know: Mulan’s aging father is called to war, so Mulan steals his armor and takes his place in the army. She’s intimidated by the overwhelming male presence at first but eventually proves herself to be one of the guys. She’s particularly well-liked by a cute soldier named Chen Honghui (Yoson An) and her fatherly commanding officer, Commander Tung (Donnie Yen), both of whom are based on Li Shang from the animated film. But whenever Mulan starts to feel like it’s going through the mandated motions of recreating beats for the sake of nostalgia, it surprises you.

Unlike some films that have moved to streaming amid the pandemic, Mulan screams “theatrical” in every frame. It is epic, it is breathtaking, it is grand, and it is a true loss that circumstances have forced it to the small screen. It’s a testament to Caro—known for the Oscar-nominated Whale Rider—that even on my tiny laptop screen, the grandiose sets and heroic battles made my heart soar. The fights scenes, helmed by stunt coordinator Ben Cooke, are simply magnificent. Liu flips off horses and round-kicks spears out of midair, and looks fabulous while she does it.

Had I been in the movie theater, that would have been more than enough to keep me riveted for two hours straight. I would have been totally swept up in the action, completely immersed in the world. At home, I found myself, at times, wishing for a little more levity to accompany the scenes that weren’t epic battles. For a remake of a movie that featured stand-up from Eddie Murphy, the 2020 Mulan is surprisingly serious. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does seem unlikely young kids will find this movie as interesting as its animated forebear (of course, you can just switch over to the 1998 Mulan on Disney+ for the kids if they do wander, then flip the live-action one back on once they go to sleep.) Millennials, too, who grew up loving the cartoon may have to adjust their expectations. Instead of a wise-cracking dragon, there’s a gorgeous, stoic phoenix by Mulan’s side.

It helps that Liu is the perfect Mulan: graceful, powerful, and always on the verge of telling the men around her where to shove it. Her chemistry with Yoson An will have you wishing the film did more with their romance, but her chemistry with Gong Li, the witch, is even more fascinating. This version of Mulan—written by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Lauren Hynek, and Elizabeth Martin—gives Mulan an equal, a foil, someone who understands her better than anyone else could. Not all of Disney’s live-action remakes have justified their existence, but that element alone is worth its own movie.

Mulan would have played better in theaters, but it’s still a rewarding watch at home. Whether it’s worth $30 to watch it now, rather than on December 4 when it will be free to Disney+ subscribers, is up to you and your finances. But personally, I think it’s worth it.

Watch Mulan (2020) on Disney+