OnScreen Review: "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Ken Jones, Chief Film Critic
Disney animation has been known to go on a heater from time to time. The early releases up to Bambi, practically all of the 50s, and then the late-80s to mid-90s have been considered period of sustained greatness from the House of Mouse. It is well past time to be considering this current run among the best streaks that Disney has ever had. Starting at the end of the 2000s to now, Disney has consistently churned out crowd pleasing, critically acclaimed movies, most of which have made significant noise at the box office. Under normal circumstances, Raya and the Last Dragon would likely have been the latest noisemaker. Even though pandemic limitations still exist for theaters and limit that, it is still a crowd pleaser and deserving of acclaim.
Disney has a certain formula with their animated movies that has served them well from the beginning. The formula has been modified through the years to adjust to audience and societal changes, like not all female main characters being princesses and in need of rescuing, but, more or less, you can recognize certain beats with Disney. They have expanded and diversified their stories and characters over the last decade, which has allowed them to bring more social consciousness into their stories instead of trying to make everything a “timeless” classic. Overall, it is hard to argue with the results.
Raya and the Last Dragon is set in a splintered fictional realm that used to be known as Kumandra. Kumandra was a magical world that was inhabited by dragons, but they were turned to stone by evil forces known as The Druun that would turn living things to stone. The last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), used her magic to create a gem that banished or subdued the Druun. However, the gem led to jealousies and resentment amongst the people of Kumandra, and they eventually broke apart into 5 different tribes, all named after different parts of a dragon, with the Heart tribe guarding the gem. 500 years after the last dragon banished The Druun, an incident brings back The Druun. Raya (Kelly Marie Tran), the daughter of the Chief of the Heart tribe goes on a quest to find the last dragon and restore the world that is threatened by The Druun and possibly unite the tribes, which was her father’s (Daniel Dae Kim) vision before he was turned to stone.
Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina highlight the predominantly Asian voice cast. Tran’s Raya is a warrior princess in the mold of Moana. She is fierce and determined in her quest. As Sisu, Awkwafina might be the star of the film. While not as manic in nature, Sisu is a character in the vein of Robin Williams’ Genie from Aladdin, a magical sidekick that is charming and full of jokes. Sisu is a genuinely enjoyable character. It has to be said though, that the character that steals the show (pun intended) is Con Baby, a toddler in league with three thieving street monkeys. Along the way, Raya and Sisu also cross paths with characters voiced by Izaac Wang, Benedict Wong, Sandra Oh, and Gemma Chan. Chan voices Namaari, Raya’s nemesis Raya blames for the return of The Druun.
What has become apparent with Disney over their last few animated films is that they are experts are world building and creating unique environments within those worlds. Whether it is the various boroughs in Zootopia or the different video game landscapes of Wreck-It Ralph, Disney establishes environs that are unique, beautiful, and serve a purpose practically and for the story. Kumandra is broken into five tribes: Fang, Heart, Spine, Talon, and Tail.
The story of Kumandra and the splintered alliances between the tribes is the heart of the story of Raya and the Last Dragon, and it is a message that is salient for the modern world, perhaps especially in America 2021. A fractured, deeply divided country full of grievances toward one another and unwilling to trust anyone from another tribe. Rick James has been paraphrased for years now online, with people on Twitter saying that “tribalism is a hell of a drug.” Well, that is on full display in Raya and the Last Dragon. Their divisions keep them from facing down the real enemy and not living in fear. For much of the film, almost no one is willing to take the first step in goodwill and try to build up some trust to bridge their divides. Of course, this is not just a story that resonates with the world today, as stories of overcoming barriers have existed for centuries, but it is especially impactful given the polarization of the current state of affairs in the US and in many places globally. Really, the timing of this film could not be better, as the last four years have been some of the most divisive and rancorous in American history and many are hoping we pull out of it. It’s not hyperbole to say that Raya and the Last Dragon could offer a path forward.
Trust is a big theme of the film, and Sisu is the biggest proponent of it. Sisu helps Raya see beyond the differences she has with people in the Fang, Spine, Talon, and Tail tribes. They all have experienced personal loss at the hands of The Druun, and with the prompting of Sisu, they slowly start to see the humanity in one another instead of just an enemy. Kids can enjoy the story and the adventure, but there is plenty of meat on the bone for people of all ages to get something out of this story.
Raya and the Last Dragon is as visually dazzling as anything that Disney has put out in recent years. It also features a stellar voice cast. There are some elements that are very similar to previous Disney animated entries, but it has strong themes of overcoming division and learning to trust others that are surprisingly timely without being preachy. It really is fun the whole family can enjoy.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
(Raya and the Last Dragon is $29.99 on Disney+ until it is free to stream Jun. 4th.)