Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Mufasa review says it may not soar to the heights of its predecessor but it’s still fun family entertainment.

It ain’t easy coming up with a prequel to one of Disney’s most beloved musicals of all time. How can you possibly rival Elton John classics like “Hakuna Matata” and “Can Your Feel the Love Tonight?”

The answer is, you can’t. But there’s no harm in trying.

Really, can you ever get enough of adorable lion cubs, this time rendered in gloriously realistic CGI?

This is the story of Simba’s father, Mufasa, as a child, voiced as a cub by Braelyn Rankins and by Aaron Pierre as a young adult. It’s told in flashbacks, by Rafiki (John Kani), with whimsical color added by Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), while babysitting Kiara, (Blue Ivy Carter) the young daughter of Simba and Nala.

To make a long, sort of repetitive story short, Mufasa becomes separated from his parents as a very young cub, and over the years attempts to find his way back to them, meeting up with many of the seminal characters you already know and love. There is much singing, frolicking and fighting along the way.

Mufasa review — what about the music?

Adequate story, adorable characters, it’s probably the music that is the biggest disappointment. There’s a reason why Mufasa: The Lion King is did not make the Oscar shortlist for Original Score. Frankly, I was surprised that “Tell Me It’s You” made the Original Song shortlist, because I cannot for the life of me remember it.

And that’s the problem with the songs. They’re all songs are absolutely forgettable and sound much alike. Not one of them stands out. I challenge you to walk out of the theater humming any of them. The strangest thing of all is that they were composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, one of the greatest theatrical songwriters of all time. Hey, no one bats 1,000. He can be forgiven.

The same goes for the work of director Barry Jenkins, who is responsible for the Academy Award winning Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, as well as this year’s The Fire Inside.

Every movie, every song doesn’t have to be an Oscar contender. With its endearing CGI and its warm spirit, Mufasa: The Lion King is fine for the kiddos as it is.

Rated PG

2 Hours

If this Mufasa review makes you wanna stalk on over to the cineplex, get times and tickets at Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Mufasa review says it may not soar to the heights of its predecessor but it’s still fun, family entertainment.