Mulan (1998) - A Heroic Heroine

Mulan: Everybody's Favorite Cross-Dresser

Patriotism knows no gender, and "Mulan" (1998), directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, portrays a young woman determined to help her country by fighting for it. While no princess, the title character is usually included with that select group of Disney characters. It is based on a Chinese legend of a story that seems to occur elsewhere as well - that of the plucky female who disguises herself as a male to get what she wants. Mulan is a very popular character who remains highly visible in the Disney universe, currently appearing as a regular character in the television Once Upon a Time.

In ancient China, the government mobilizes the citizenry to combat an invasion by the dreaded Huns. Each family must provide one male member. Fa Zhou (Soon-Tek Oh), the only male in his family, is too old to serve, so his tomboy daughter, Mulan (Ming-Na Wen), disguises herself as a male named "Ping" to take his place. Fa Zhou prays to his ancestors, who provide the small dragon Mushu (Eddie Murphy) as Mulan's adviser and protector.

The "Trio" of Yao, Ling and Chien-Po

Joining troops headed by Li Shang (BD Wong, singing by Donny Osmond), Mulan becomes a competent warrior. Mushu arranges for the troops to be ordered into the mountains in relief of General Li, who is Li Shang's father. There, they find that General Li and his troops have been destroyed. The Hun ambush Li Shang's troops as they try to leave, and only Mulan's use of a rocket to start an avalanche saves them.

Mushu the mighty!

Mulan is wounded in the battle, and her gender is revealed during treatment. Li Shang does not execute her for being an imposter as required, but leaves her on the mountain. After everyone else leaves, Mulan sees that many Hun were not killed in the battle and remain a threat to the Emperor.

Mushu at work

Mulan goes down to the Imperial City to warn Li Shang, but he ignores her. The Huns attack and capture the Emperor (Pat Morita), barricading themselves in the palace. Mulan devises a strategem for Yao (Harvey Fierstein), Ling (Gedde Watanabe) and Chien-Po (Jerry Tondo) to enter the palace disguised as concubines and defeat the Huns with Li Shang's troops.

You go, girl!

Mulan challenges the Hun leader, Shan Yu (Miguel Ferrer), onto the roof for a single combat. Mushu, meanwhile, is ready with rockets and fires them when Shan Yu is in the right spot on the roof, killing him. Everybody honors Mulan for her service, but one question remains for her: will she ever find true love?

Mulan picking up Mushu

"Mulan" is a heroic tale of valor and wit. By breaking the rules, Mulan spares her unfit father from having to serve in the military, and her own military sense enables the Chinese to defeat the Hun. Everybody can feel good about the character, as she goes to extreme lengths to do the right thing for her family and the country.

Grab hold!

A high point of the film for many is the music. Jerry Goldsmith wrote the score, while Matthew Wilder and David Zippel contributed five songs. Former Mouseketeer Christina Aguilera was a featured singer and did a wonderful job, kick-starting her career as a pop star. "Reflection" was the big hit from the show. Lea Salonga, who previously sang as Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin," did the singing for Mulan. Donny Osmond also performed a song that many like, "I'll Make a Man Out of You."

Mulan with Mushu

The animation is wonderful, as always the case with Disney Animation Studios products. Several new techniques had to be developed to portray the crowd scenes shown in the film. A sort of precursor to true 3D, a technique called "faux plane," added depth to several shots in s subtle way.

Mulan at home in garden

Not everybody is in love with this film. Some do not find the songs particularly memorable, despite Aguilera's heady vocals. The story is a bit trite, with the plucky girl who naturally turns out to be a better strategist than any man, and it is not as if the outcome is going to be any great mystery. You would think that with a total of 30 (!) writing credits that the script would have been better. There are those who think the whole idea of a female having to pretend to be a male in order to succeed is insulting to females, but the story is what it is, it is a historical legend and not something that Disney just made up based on market research or something like that. "Mulan" adds yet more proof to the growing stack that you just can't please everyone.

I can do anything you can do better

Mulan is an iconic figure, a symbol of heroism and determination. The voice actors are all excellent, with Eddie Murphy a stand-out as Mushu. Many top Asian-American actors were used for the English voice work, and Jackie Chan voiced Li Shang in the Chinese version and sang a song as well.

Would you like to stay for dinner?

The film made a lot of money and was considered a big success. However, it could have made even more if Disney had not been on the outs with the Chinese government, which scheduled "Mulan" for a soft part of their film year. The film still did well, out-grossing the previous two Disney releases, and direct-to-video "Mulan II" followed six years later.

You saved us all

Most people consider "Mulan" to be a fine story and a feminist icon, like Xena or Wonder Woman or similar female fighters. It is not quite in the same class as the top tier of Disney Renaissance releases such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin" and "The Lion King," but few films are. It makes for a fine evening's entertainment.

The official trailer is below.