It’s darn near impossible to review “Mulan” without assessing the histrionics that preceded it. Disney’s live-action remake of its 1998 animated film arrives with heaps of luggage, from the pandemic-fueled release changes to boycotts over the star’s pro-China sentiments. Telling any China-based tale is fraught with land mines as is, given Hollywood’s fealty to Red China. (More on that in a minute) Liu Yifei, who plays the title character, supports the same Hong Kong cops accused of attacking pro-democracy protesters. And, for some, the film’s feminist main character will never be woke enough.
So is the actual film any good? Well, yes, in that homogenized Disney way where they throw so much money at an intellectual property it’s impossible to resist. Just don’t expect to think about it long after the end credits roll.
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