The Lion King (2019)

Real lions can’t frown, and that’s the whole problem with this Lion King. Jon Favreau’s animals look like they walked out of a nature documentary, every whisker perfect, and almost none of them can show what they’re feeling. When Simba should be devastated, his face stays politely blank. Be Prepared, the villain song, gets cut down to a few gloomy lines, and Can You Feel the Love Tonight happens in broad daylight, which ruins the mood. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Scar sounds bitter and dangerous, but he’s stuck inside a scrawny lion who can’t sneer. The rescue comes from the comic relief. Seth Rogen’s Pumbaa and Billy Eichner’s Timon riff like they found a better movie under a log, and Eichner gets the biggest laughs. James Earl Jones is back as Mufasa, and that voice still works. It made $1.66 billion worldwide on a reported $250 to $260 million. A 4.9 because it’s a stunning tech demo with the feelings switched off. $895.56 says you start belting Be Prepared along with Scar and get left hanging when he stops.

What works: The visuals are jaw-dropping, and Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen bring real comic energy as Timon and Pumbaa.

What doesn’t: The realistic animals can’t show emotion, so the big dramatic scenes fall flat, and Scar’s song is cut to almost nothing.

Who it’s for: Little kids meeting this story for the first time, and anyone who wants to show off a new TV.