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 Mulan II
Darrell Rooney
ProducerWALT DISNEY VIDEO

  barnes & Noble.com

Barnes & Noble
Mulan II begins one month after Mulan has saved China. Now worshipful throngs of young girls clamor for this brave, strong, and beautiful heroine to teach them how to "kick butt." And thats reason enough for this direct-to-DVD sequel, which charts the further adventures of one of Disneys new generation of grrrl-empowering heroines. Mulan II lacks the epic scope of the majestic first film, but the scaled-down story does amp up the comedy, as well as the romance between newly engaged couple Mulan and General Shang. Before they can be wed, the emperor commands them to escort his three daughters to a rival kingdom, where they will be wed in a strategic alliance to stave off a Mongolian invasion. The forward-thinking Mulan believes that women should only marry for love, and she is torn between her duty and her heart, especially when the three princesses in her charge fall in love with the rascally Yao, Chien-Po, and Ling along the way. Meanwhile, Mulan and Shang must learn to work in harmony. Most of the original voice cast is back, including: Ming Na as Mulan (sung by Lea Salonga); B. D. Wong as Shang (sung by Donny Osmond); Queen of Cartoons June Foray as Grandmother Fa; Harvey Fierstein as Yao; and Pat Morita as the emperor. A welcome addition to the cast is Lauren Tom as the most impetuous of the princesses. Sorely missed is Eddie Murphy; sound-alike Mark Moseley does the honors as Mushu, but as written, the diminutive dragon quickly wears out his welcome, acting out of character by trying to drive a wedge between Mulan and Shang (it turns out he loses his guardianship if she marries). Among the new songs, "Lesson One" is a good workout along the lines of "Ill Make a Man Out of You" from the first film, and "Like Other Girls" is a girls-just-want-to-have-fun treat. It has been a seven-year wait for this Mulan sequel, which fans will likely welcome as a worthy continuation of the tale. Donald Liebenson

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