Mulan II is a road trip, a comedy, and a cautionary tale about the hazards of being a guardian spirit. The 2004 Disney sequel follows Mulan and Captain Li Shang on a mission to escort the Emperor’s three daughters across China to their arranged marriages. Mushu, the dragon guardian who drove the first movie, spends the whole film trying to tear the couple apart so he can keep his job.
The film is a direct-to-video release, and it plays like one. It is shorter than the first film, running 79 minutes, and it leans harder on music, with songs written by composer Jeanine Tesori and lyricist Alexa Junge. The score is by Joel McNeely. It is also a comedy aimed at children, which means the stakes are low and the jokes are big.
Trailer, via Talkingmovie.
Mushu’s Problem
Mushu’s problem is the engine of the film. He learns that if Mulan marries Shang, his family ancestors will become her guardians and he will lose his job. So he sets out to sabotage the relationship, believing that Mulan and Shang are incompatible because of their different personalities. He tries everything, from small tricks to full-scale destruction of the princesses’ carriage, which forces everyone to travel on foot.
The setup is clever. Mushu wants to keep his pedestal, and he believes the best way to do that is to prove Mulan and Shang are wrong for each other. That is a simple idea, and the film trusts it.
The Princesses and Their Princes
The three princesses — Ting-Ting, Mei, and Su — each fall in love with one of Mulan’s friends: Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po. This subplot runs parallel to Mulan and Shang’s own romance, and it gives the film a second pair of young people learning about love. The princesses are not just cargo; they have feelings, and they act on them.
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Mulan | Heroine, escort |
| Shang | Captain, escort |
| Mushu | Dragon guardian |
| Princesses | The Emperor’s daughters |
| Yao, Ling, Chien-Po | Mulan’s friends |
Songs and Songs
The songs are a mixed bag. They are performed by the cast, and they are meant to move the story forward. Some land. Some do not. The film is a musical, and it treats its songs with sincerity even when the humor around them is broad.
The score, by Joel McNeely, is pleasant enough, but it does not carry the weight of the story. The songs are the memorable part.
What Works
- The premise: Mushu loses his job if Mulan marries Shang
- The princesses falling in love with Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po
- The road-trip format keeps the action moving
- The humor is aimed at children, which is a fair target
What Does Not Work
- The stakes feel lower than in the first film
- Some jokes land flat
- Mushu’s schemes are obvious
- The runtime is short, which limits room for depth
The film is not a failure, but it is not a triumph either. It is a sequel that understands its audience and delivers what that audience wants: a funny, musical, easy-to-follow story about love and duty. It is not a great film, but it is a pleasant one.
The cast returns largely intact from the first film. Ming-Na Wen voices Mulan, BD Wong voices Shang, and Mark Moseley voices Mushu. Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh, and Gedde Watanabe return as the princesses. The voice work is solid, and the chemistry between Mulan and Shang holds up.
Mulan II is a sequel that knows what it is doing. It is not trying to be the first film again. It is trying to be a fun, musical, family-friendly ride, and for the most part, it succeeds at that. The jokes are big, the songs are plentiful, and the heart of the story — Mushu’s fear of losing his job — is a simple, human concern dressed up in dragons and princesses.
It is a good time, but it is not a great film. It is a sequel that respects its audience’s affection for the first movie while giving them something new, and that is a fair balance.
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