The Lion King 1½ (2004) (V)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Bradley Raymond

Writers:

Tom Rogers (screenplay) and
Roger Allers (additional screenplay material)

Release Date:

10 February 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Family | Adventure

Tagline:

You don't know the ½ of it!

Plot:

Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog retell the story of The Lion King, from their own unique perspective.

Plot Keywords:

Lion | Sequel | Mother Son Relationship | Urination | Sequel With Unusual Number

Awards:

6 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Nathan Lane	...	Timon (voice)
Ernie Sabella	...	Pumbaa (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Mom (voice)
Jerry Stiller	...	Uncle Max (voice)
Matthew Broderick	...	Simba (voice)
Robert Guillaume	...	Rafiki (voice)
Moira Kelly	...	Nala (voice)
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Shenzi the Hyena (voice)
Cheech Marin	...	Banzai (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	Ed (voice)
Edward Hibbert	...	Zazu (voice)
Jason Rudofsky	...	Flinchy (voice)
Matt Weinberg	...	Young Simba (voice)
Jeff Bennett	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Corey Burton	...	Grumpy, Additional Voices (voice)

Also Known As:

Hakuna Matata (USA) (working title)
The Lion King 1 1/2 (USA) (alternative spelling)
The Lion King 1 1/2: Hakuna Matata (USA) (working title)
The Lion King 3 (Australia) (DVD title)

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Thailand:G | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:G | Hong Kong:I | Japan:U | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:G | South Korea:All | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G | Greece:K

Company:

DisneyToon Studios

Trivia:

The characters (from not in the movie) that show up in the end are (not in order): Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Stitch, Pocahontas, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys, Aladdin, Jasmine, the Genie, Quasimodo, the gargoyles Hugo, Victor, and Lavern, Terk, Baloo, Mowgli, Snow White, all seven Dwarfs, Lady, the Tramp, a hippo from "Fantasia", Belle, the Beast, Mrs. Potts and Chip, Dumbo, Flora, Fauna,and Merriweather from "Sleeping Beauty", Brer Bear, the Mad Hatter, and the March Hare.

Goofs:

Continuity: At their first home by the water hole, Pumbaa hands Timon a drink in a coconut shell with a straw and umbrella. As Pumbaa starts to leave in the next shot, the straw is gone, yet Timon seems to be holding and drinking through it. In the following shot, the straw is back.

Quotes:

Timon: Who knows why fate led us to little Simba?
[images of Simba scaring Timon run throughout the scene]
Timon: Maybe it was my love of adventure, my innate courage, or my... . Okay! Who's in charge of the freeze-frames?
Pumbaa: Sorry.
Timon: Anywho... . Rescuing Simba was a cinch. Then came the real scary part:
[dramatic music]
Timon: Parenthood.

Movie Connections:

References "Peter Gunn" (1958)

Soundtrack:

I Just Can't Wait to Be King

Dig-a tunnel, dig-dig-a tunnel...

Lion King 1 1/2 is a very fun and addictive sequel. Don't expect the production values of a theatrical release, but do expect the highest quality of direct to video release.

It is set up as Timon & Pumba begin watching the original Lion King in a darkened theater and abruptly switch tracks and begin narrating their own story. This is done with frequent comedic interruptions. For example, during one particular tense moment a home shopping commercial pops on and a chagrined Pumba realizes he has sat on the remote. These little moments pepper the movie, and whether you find them entertaining or not will greatly depend on your sense of humor. If you are particularly bothered by movies that deliberately remind the viewer is watching a movie, than this may not be your cup of tea.

Animation is the best they've invested in the Disney DTV line, and is integrated almost seamlessly with the original material. The newer, independent material uses a lot of the artistic style of the original. The voice talents are all well performed, though I couldn't help thinking of Marge Simpson every time I heard Julie Kavner.

Many of the jokes in the movie will be well recognized by viewers as recycled over the generations, but are presented more with the familiarity of comfortable quirks of old friends than annoyingly repetitive.

The music has made me realize how much I enjoyed and miss a good musical integrated with a Disney feature. The toe-tapping opening feature of 'Dig A Tunnel' is well choreographed and hilarious. Timon and Pumba's take on the Lion King's opening sequence and their introduction to paradise are also amusing. The only problem was the reprise of the 'Dig A Tunnel' at the end of the movie, switching its lyrics and tune from defeatist to uplifting.

Story line is pretty well done, and the integration of new plot elements is done almost perfectly, though the final bit during the hyena chased stretched the storyline credibility a little. The new story doesn't seem to handle saccharine or emotionally charged moments to well, and does better when it is resorting to full comedy.

Overall, worth purchasing. If you like all the bonus features that come with a typical 2-disc set, then go for it. For the penny pincher who still is willing to invest on a good flick, wait until it drops four or more dollars and go rent it right away.

Damion Crowley.