Mulan (Ming-Na)has just returned from her adventures conquering the Huns and is a hero. All the girls in the village admire and respect her, thinking they want to be just like her. Mushu (voiced this time by Mark Moseley) is in Guardian Heaven. All the other Guardians agree that he has earned back his pedestal, and he is making the most of his moment in the sun.
Li Shang comes to the Fa home to propose to Mulan, and the family couldn’t be more delighted. Mushu, however, is very upset. When Mulan gets married, her husband’s ancestors will start watching over her, and he’ll lose his job. No more pedestal for him, and he just got it! It’s not fair. However, if he can break up Mulan and Shang, he’ll get to keep his job. An evil plan begins to percolate in that little dragon brain of his.
Meanwhile, China is under a new threat and must find a way to evade another war. The Emperor (voiced by Pat Morita) has made an alliance with a nearby kingdom. His three daughters will marry the three sons of the other kingdom, and they will fight side by side. The Emperor asks Mulan and Shang to escort the three princesses to their wedding, taking with them three soldiers of Chang’s choosing. As I’m sure you can guess, Chang picks our three friends from the first movie: Ling, Chien Po, and Yao.
The movie progresses rather predictably as the three princesses fall in love with the three guards, and vice versa. Emboldened by Mulan’s drive and determination, the girls want to forego the wedding, but they know they must do their duty. Mushu is doing everything he can to create chaos, and in the middle of it all, it seems that the Lucky Cricket is the only one acting rationally.
While I did not enjoy “Mulan II” as much as I did “Mulan,” I thought it was a decent sequel. Mulan and Shang manage to compromise on some of their toughest issues, and they all live happily ever after, including Mushu.
An interesting side note: Michelle Kwan has a cameo appearance. Watch the movie and see if you can pick her out.
This film is rated G.
Related Blogs: