LION KING 2: SIMBA'S PRIDE

1998, Disney

Animated

Rating: G

Approx. 81 mins.

THE STORY:

Simba (Matthew Broderick) is all grown up, leader of his pride, partner to Lala (Moira Kelly) and father to Kiara (Neve Campbell). His daughter is coming of age and wants to establish her own independent identity. This involves starting a relationship with Kuvo (Jason Marsden), the son of Simba's dead rival's mate, Zira (Suzanne Pleshette).

As staunchly as Simba wants to continue Zira's and her clan's exile from his pride, Zira wants to avenge her partner's loss by killing Simba. She aims to use her son to gain Simba's trust before killing and supplanting him.

In the end, love conquers hate, and the children are the teachers of the parents.   

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

•  lots of talk about killing and maiming and methods of killing and maiming

VIOLENCE:

•  mostly verbal, fighting scenes with no detail

TEACHING POINTS:

If I try to sort through Disney's messaging, I get the following:

• Some people are absolutely good and others are intrinsically bad
• Once the bad people die, good can prevail 
• Taking a close look at our 'enemies' reveals that they are just like us 

 Definitely can't buy into all of that.

THE UPSHOT:

G?! Really?! Sure, there was no gore, no actual killing. But the amount of time dedicated to talking about and singing about and acting on murderous plots is staggering. That is the entire plot.

After the pleasant surprise of Lion King 1 1/2, yet again, Disney has disappointed me. This was a complete waste of 81 minutes of my life, and I just hope it made no lasting impression on the 4 year-old in the room. Save yourselves!

1/5