This Simba roars yet doesn’t soar to great heights

Nonika Singh

It's the circle of life

And it moves us all

Through despair and hope

Through faith and love.

 As Lion King begins on this wondrous musical note, you couldn’t agree more with its heartfelt and meaningful lyrics. But does the movie move you? Well, not quite, and certainly not to tears, Remake of the 1994 animated classic, this photo-realistic version with some amazing computer-generated effects has its moments. You remain invested in the plot and its characters. 

Yes, both Mufasa and Simba are almost human like in their father-son concern for each other. Powered by the voice of J.D. McCrary for younger Simba and writer, actor, musician and comedian Donald Glover for the grown up version, Simba remains endearing as ever. You relate as much with his curiosity to cross the forbidden line and walk beyond the shadows as much with his guilelessness when his conniving uncle Scar manipulates him.

Sure, the good old tale is vintage wine, as any fable of yore in India or in lands of Africa where the story is set. Treading the same path as the original as well as many a story already told, retold, there is not much by way of surprise here. Or one that you can’t anticipate, foretell or forestall. The tragic cue is laid out too when father-son share a touching moment.

Yet, the encounter of Simba with a pack of hyenas and later of Mufasa with his bête noire, his own brother Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who grudges him his position in the animal kingdom, have enough momentum to keep you engrossed. After the tragic twist, there is fun and frolic too and the ‘Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase’ has an infectious energy to it beat. Music and lyrics with lilting songs, like Can you feel the love tonight, The peace the evening brings, The world for once in perfect harmony with all its living things, are the strength of the film. Certain dialogues too keep you amused. 

The play on the word ‘lion’s share’ as Scar thunders, “as far as brains go I have the lion’s share” is pithy and intelligent for sure and tickles us no end. The attempt to induce humour, especially when warthog Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) and the meerkat Timon (Billy Eichner) come on board, works but not always. “There's more to see than can ever be seen…” Indeed, the message of coexistence and harmony is palpable. The significance of each species, yes, the ones that lions devour too, is reinstated early on as Simba asks innocently, “But dad, don’t we eat the antelope.” Then there is the moral core, “A true king searches for what he can give.”  But whether the narrative makes you see beyond the obvious is debatable.

Good vs evil… the plot is familiar, tried and tested. Yet, thanks to remarkable voiceovers, including Beyoncé Knowles Carter (voiceover for Nala, Simba’s love interest) and James Earl Jones for Mafusa, it doesn’t get tired or tire you out. But unlike the 1994 original, it is not an uplifting experience either. This Lion King roars (hence watchable) yet doesn’t soar to great heights (hence not unmissable). In short, it may be a satisfying (visually and otherwise) affair but not an enduring one and unlike the original, it won’t stay with you for a long, long time.  Still, it would make for a fine nature walk for your child as many species of the animal kingdom are reflected with astonishing CGI computer-generated imagery.

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