This thrilling Disney masterpiece is based on a legendary figure, Hua Mulan, whose escapades are depicted in a famous Chinese poem called “The Ballad of Mulan.” It’s unknown whether this ballad was a historical record or an allegorical piece of fiction, but either way, it makes one whale of a Disney film.
Mulan is the only child of her parents, and her only hope to redeem the fact that she is a girl is to marry well. We begin the film with her preparations to meet with the matchmaker, a woman who holds a position of much importance in the community. She controls the destinies of all the young women and it’s crucial that she be impressed. Mulan’s interview goes poorly, however, in one of the funniest scenes of the film, and she is informed by the matchmaker that she will never bring her family honor.
Meanwhile, the Huns are advancing on China, and the Emperor must send out troops to defend the land. One son from every family must go, but because Mulan’s family has no sons, her father will go instead. He was wounded in a previous battle and has since walked with a cane, and is in no condition to fight, but he insists on taking the commission. The night before he is to leave, Mulan can hardly stand it. She knows her father will be killed if he goes to fight, and she can’t bear to see that happen. Cutting off her hair and putting on her father’s armor, she takes the horse and rides off into the night, hatching a plan to take her father’s place in the army.
This causes great concern to the spirits of Mulan’s ancestors, who live in a shrine behind her house. They hold a meeting to decide what should be done, and they reach a consensus: they should send a guardian after her. Mushu, the little dragon who is in charge of ringing the gong to wake up the guardians, is told to awaken the great stone dragon, but in so doing he accidentally breaks the stone dragon. This is humiliation too great to bear, so he takes off to fetch Mulan himself, hoping that the ancestors will never find out that the dragon is broken.
The scene where Mulan meets Mushu for the first time is priceless. Voiced by Eddie Murphy, Mushu is a comic hoot, and he convinces Mulan that he was sent by the ancestors and will help her become a hero of China. This is the only way he can redeem himself, he reasons, and what’s the harm in telling the girl a little lie? They register in the camp, she gives the name of “Ping” as her own, and training begins.
She’s hopeless at the start, but as determination grows within her, she soon becomes one of the strongest “men” in the unit. But when it’s discovered that she’s a girl, they want nothing to do with her any more.
This film is fabulous on many different levels. It shows the importance of being yourself in any situation. Mulan is a great role model for girls, as she voices her opinions and isn’t afraid to say what she’s thinking. At the end, when she goes against the Huns as a woman, we see that warriors come in both genders and you don’t have to be a man to be strong. At the same time, though, she never loses her femininity, showing that there’s nothing wrong with being a girl.
This film is a definite favorite in our house. It’s hysterical, adventurous, suspenseful, and your family will love it.
This movie is rated G.
Side note: The singing voice of Li Shang is provided by Donny Osmond.
Related Blogs: