REVIEW Raya and the Last Dragon
Disney’s 59th animated feature film is a solid, if formulaic, adventure.
Originally announced in early 2018, Raya and the Last Dragon (out in cinemas wherever they happen to be open, and also available on Disney+ with Premier Access) is, at least in theory, the first Walt Disney Animation Studios film of the post-Lasseter era, in that the lion’s share of the work was done after his ouster (Frozen II, which scrubbed his name off the credits, produced at least one script draft while Lasseter was still officially the head of the studio). And the movie is (unintentionally?) aware of this as, much like its immediate predecessor, it tells a story of a new generation trying to rectify errors of the past and restore a divided nation to its former glory (things were even more symbolic on the Pixar side, with Toy Story 4 and Onward serving as unknowing mission statements: yes, the studio will do fine without its erstwhile leader/father figure).
The first WDAS production to feature a cast entirely of Asian descent (with the lone exception of Alan Tudyk, who is on animal vocals duty), the film takes place in the fictional land of Kumandra, which has been split in five regions ever since a war against evil spirits called the Druun led to the disappearance of dragons, humanity’s main ally in the conflict. What remains is an orb containing dragon magic, and it is currently guarded by the Heart Tribe. Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) is the chief’s daughter, and she is in training to keep an eye on the orb. When things don’t turn out as planned, she embarks on a quest with her trusted animal sidekick Tuk Tuk (Tudyk). Their mission? To find the legendary last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), before another war tears Kumandra apart for good.
Directed by Disney veteran Don Hall (Big Hero 6) and Blindspotting helmer Carlos Lopez Estrada, the film plays like Moana (sans musical numbers) by way of Avatar: The Last Airbender, while also ticking most boxes when it comes to Disney sidekicks - one supporting character in particular spends most of the movie essentially delivering a (very good) demo reel for a Disney+ spin-off. There is a hint of self-awareness (the film does have fun with the recent WDAS “surprise villain” trope), but for the most part the filmmakers play it straight, aiming for a blend of spectacle, humor, action and heart. The endeavor is largely successful, thanks to ace characterizations and spot-on voice acting (Tran makes a compelling case for why Lucasfilm did her dirty by reducing her screentime in Rise of Skywalker), although the balancing act occasionally stumbles.
The script, in particular, struggles from time to time when it comes to crafting a strong narrative, with the second half of the movie losing some momentum under the weight of an important message that is repeated in a manner that is too heavy-handed even by Disney standards. On the flipside, the visuals are breathtaking and the action is arguably the best we’ve seen in these movies ever since the studio decided to fully embrace the CGI route for its features (there are some hand-drawn moments, but they basically fill the “stylistic digression” function that also pops up in DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda franchise). The movie never quite reaches new heights, but is soars often enough to make for ideal family entertainment.
Raya and the Last Dragon (USA 2021, 112 minutes)
Directors: Don Hall, Carlos Lopez Estrada
Writers: Qui Nguyen, Adele Lim
Producers: Osnat Shurer, Peter Del Vecho
Music: James Newton Howard
Cast: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong, Alan Tudyk
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (theatrical), Disney+ (streaming)
Note: The theatrical release is accompanied by a short film called Us Again. Disney+ subscribers will be able to see the short on June 4, when Raya and the Last Dragon becomes freely available to all.