Fa Mulan is several steps away from the traditional Disney princess. She’s not waiting for her prince to come, she doesn’t need rescuing, and she never sings about her lovesick heart. What she does is grab a weapon and try to smack down a Hun invasion. Of course, it helps that she also has a smart-aleck dragon sidekick named Mushu.
When China is invaded by the Huns, Mulan’s father is too old to fight and would surely die. Mulan disguises herself as a boy and takes his place in the army. She’s quickly in the thick of battle where her ingenuity and fast-action save the day, at least temporarily. When her identity is discovered and she’s sent home, Mulan is able to use her skills again to save the Emperor from the deceptive Huns.
Eddie Murphy plays the dragon Mushu who needs to redeem himself by helping Mulan, even if his antics are more often than not humorously inept. It’s the same sort of wacky sidekick he’d play in the “Shrek” movies and just as sidekicky as Robin Williams’ genie in “Aladdin.”
The animation is spectacular and the fight sequences, aided by computer animation, are thrilling. The film has just the right blend of action, humor, and history. With her actions, intelligence and strong will, Mulan is a positive role model for women in an ancient society and it’s a lesson that’s just as applicable today.
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