05 Mar Raya and the Last Dragon Review

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON

dir. Don Hall and Carlos Lopez-Estrada, starring the voice talents of Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwfina, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, etc

500 years after monsters threatened the land, those same monsters have returned, and it’s up to a lone warrior to track down the last dragon and stop the Druun for good.

Disney’s first foray into a story set in southeast Asia, Raya and the Last Dragon centers on the land of Kumandra, a prosperous land ravaged by the faceless Druun. Sisu, the last dragon, uses her magic to create a giant gem that drives out the Druun and restores the land and its inhabitants but not her dragon family. Years later, as Raya’s Heart clan oversee and protect the gem, Raya’s trusting nature leads to the breaking of the gem and the return of the Druun.

The main theme and takeaway of the movie is the nature of trust: it’s Raya’s trust in people that sets things askew, it’s her lack of trust that shapes who she becomes, and it’s her trust that ultimately restores balance to Kumandra. The lessons on trust that Sisu impart upon Raya throughout the course of the film are worthy lessons for anyone watching to learn, especially in a time period where mistrust and willful misleading information is generated daily.

Unfortunately, the lack of a strong motivating antagonist is completely absent from this movie, replaced by the nebulous, constantly shifting Druun whose only goal is to turn everything to stone. Why that is is a concept that’s never explored or offered; viewers are asked to take this motivation at face value and focus more on the heroes they leap from set piece to set piece to defeat the Druun and restore order to Kumandra.

The voice work in Raya is standard Disney: for a film set within an Asian culture, they spared no expense garnering some of the top notch Asian celebrities Hollywood has to offer. Kelly Marie Tran turns in an amazing performance as the titular Raya, full of earnestness and strong will. Awkwafina shines as well as Sisu the last dragon, going for broke in a mostly manic performance that plays to her talents and energy on camera. Gemma Chan and Benedict Wong, staples of other Disney properties, lend their voices as well that flesh out their respective characters and lend weight and gravitas to the film. Izaac Wang as Boun steals the show as the always upbeat and charismatic entrepreneur who helps the gang along their path.

Directed in tandem by Don Hall and Carlos Lopez-Estrada, Raya is a fun, breezy film, moving from tribe to tribe as Raya and her ragtag crew race to regain the pieces of the dragon gem. Each tribe comes with its own unique culture, atmosphere, and adventure set piece which keeps the 107 minute film moving quickly and ensures that children will stay thoroughly entertained throughout. There’s also something for the adults as well; Tong in particular comes across incredibly relatable as a man who misses his family. The animation is top tier Disney; while not as superb as Coco, it dazzles and delights with the design of the dragons and the nebulous beings that are the Druun. Hall and Lopez-Estrada use these great designs against incredible backdrops, giving each tribe its own distinct and unique look and feel: from desert wastelands to a city built atop a river to lush gardens, Raya sports some of the best establishing shots of any animated film thus far.

Overall, Raya is an a fun ride that can be enjoyed as a family unit or by oneself. A well selected cast list combined with the solid directing effort are hampered by a lackluster antagonist and weak story that’s been tread upon multiple time buy Disney themselves. Still, the superb efforts of the animation team compensate for any staleness plot-wise, making Raya another good entry into the company’s catalog of animated films. While not mining the emotional depths that Up, Inside Out, or Coco do, Raya chooses to focus more on adventure and fun than telling a great human story. Raya and the Last Dragon will be released on Disney Premier Access on March 5th.

Review by Darryl Mansel