No one likely expects “Mufasa” to usurp the throne of the original “Lion King” or its remake, but the film won’t be an outcast either. Disney+ series “Dream Productions” from the “Inside Out” universe comes with a few issues. But if parents keep an eye open for them, they can mostly rest easy. “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” deserves a little note of caution before your family potentially chooses to see it.
Subscribe to have The Washington Times’ Higher Ground delivered to your inbox every Sunday.
Read on to get Plugged In on what’s beyond the movie titles and trailers for faith-filled and family-first reviews from Focus on the Family’s Plugged In.
Mufasa: The Lion King – In Theaters
In 2019, Disney’s “The Lion King” roared onto screens in photorealistic CGI glory. The film made more $1.6 billion. Considering the $260 million it took to make it, that’s a pretty good return on investment.
So good that you might consider making a prequel.
Enter 2024’s “Mufasa: The Lion King.” With a new set of original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, it’s looking to feast on a little more of that profit. And it just may get what it’s hunting for.
Unlike 2019’s entry, this addition to the franchise is a new tale. It sheds light on the brotherly relationship that Mufasa and Scar — Taka — once had. And though they sing of brotherhood, it’s clear from the moment they meet (a moment which mimics their final interaction in the original tale) that their destinies are set to collide.
Be sure to listen in to The Plugged In Show, a weekly podcast with lighthearted reviews for parents and conversations about entertainment, pop culture and technology:
And destiny’s a relevant idea to bring up here, too, as this film’s spiritual components will be one of two difficulties for families to consider. After all, so long as Rafiki hangs around, you’re bound to get a musing or two about the circle of life, visions and ancestors in the sky. There’s little structure to Rafiki’s comments, but given the fact that his visions come true, it’s a spiritual element parents will need to talk about with their kids.
“Mufasa,” like its predecessor, also tries to keep violence as PG as possible. In other words, that means when animals die, it’s either offscreen or via vanishing from view when they’re squished under boulders. It may be bloodless, but these fights still feel intense due to that photorealistic nature.
I don’t think anyone expects “Mufasa” to usurp the throne of the original “Lion King” or its remake. The story remains a classic, whether it’s delivered by Hamlet or Simba.
But don’t expect this film to be an outcast in Disney’s repertoire by any means, either.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – In Theaters
If your child likes fast-paced action adventures about spiky blue hedgehogs based on video games, then you probably went and saw the previous two Sonic films already and more or less know what to expect here.
There are some good messages here about the power of love over hate. Sonic repeatedly tells the Robotniks and Shadow that it’s never too late to do the right thing. And when his own anger threatens to take over, he sagely states: “There are no winners with revenge.”
Sonic’s actions demonstrate how the love we have for our family and friends is stronger than the hatred we feel for our enemies. And a few characters embrace this truth, even sacrificing themselves to save millions of others.
But there’s some flashy violence that might upset younger or sensitive viewers. A few characters perish onscreen. And even though this film is rated PG, there were more profanities than I would have thought appropriate.
Some families may be OK with those elements, but I still think “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” deserves a little note of caution before your family potentially chooses to see it.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
Dream Productions – Series streaming on Disney+
On the “Inside Out” timeline, “Dream Productions” fits snugly between the two movies — exploring 12-year-old Riley’s psyche after the Andersons’ traumatic move to San Francisco (in “Inside Out”) but before she hits adolescence and is introduced to a raft of new emotions (in “Inside Out 2”).
My own emotional reaction to Pixar’s first television series? Tempered joy.
Dream Productions doesn’t rise to the level of the “Inside Out” films — movies that I consider to be among Pixar’s best. And it comes with a few small-but-important cautions.
First, you’ll hear a few misuses of God’s name and a bit of bathroom humor throughout the series. (An interview with one of Riley’s most popular dream-time stars is punctuated by a series of censor-y bleeps, too.) We learn that Riley’s also thinking (and dreaming) about what the future might bring: Could it be a nose ring? A tattoo? Riley’s pondering the possibilities. And, of course, tween-level romance is definitely on the table, and Riley’s dreams feature a new star: “Canadian boyfriend.”
“I would die for you!” Canadian boyfriend says. Often.
But outside of those dramatic, “Twilight”-esque exclamations, the “romance” here is pretty mild. The closest we see of anything overtly physical consists of dream Riley riding with Canadian boyfriend aboard a moose (of course), her arms wrapped around his middle and her face resting lightly on his back.
And while “Dream Productions” doesn’t have the emotional heft of the “Inside Out” films — and perhaps pushes ever-so-slightly into more problematic territory — the show delivers some nice messages about teamwork and resilience. It’s fun, sweet and mostly clean. And it won’t put parents to sleep, either. Indeed, it’s a show that many families could watch — and enjoy — together.
“Dream Productions” comes with a few minor caveats thus far, sure. But it’s hardly a nightmare. And if parents keep one eye open for the show’s few issues, they can rest relatively easy with this one.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out. )
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
–
Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Reviews written by Paul Asay, Emily Tsaio and Kennedy Unthank.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.