Directed by Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook
Written by Robert D. San Souci and Rita Hsiao & Chris Sanders III) & Philip LaZebnik & Raymond Singer & Eugene Bostwick-Singer

The latest Disney animated film is back to form after the somewhat disappointing films Pocahontas, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Hercules. Aside from some forgettable songs, this film ranks up there with The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Mulan (voiced by Ming-Na Wen) is a rebellious Chinese girl who dresses as a man to save her father's life in the war against the Huns. Mushu (voiced by Eddie Murphy in a Robin Williams-as-the-Genie turn) is a small dragon charged with taking care of Mulan on her quest. She is bullied around in the army and narrowly avoids being discovered on a few occasions, but soon (of course) falls in love with her Adonis-like commander. The animation (especially in the snow battle scene) is fantastic, and puts Warner Bros.' recent Quest for Camelot to shame, showing why Disney is at the top of the heap in American animation. Murphy is at his best as Mushu, and avoids being an annoying sidekick like we've seen in the past few movies. Mulan is one of the most complex characters ever in Disney animation, which should put them on the good side of feminists (even if some Chinese groups are upset with the film). Thankfully, it looks to have some staying power at the box office, but Disney isn't "in" like it was at the time of Aladdin, so many will avoid this film. But if Disney keeps going in this direction, its grosses will improve in the near future as well. *** 1/2

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