

Timon and Pumbaa stole the show in the first movie and definitely deserved a movie that centered around them. The Lion King 1½ definitely has its cute and funny moments.

Am I going to be so devout about The Lion King that I will nitpick at certain scenes, or am I just going to accept this movie as just another look at The Lion King story? Most of the time, I found myself embracing the latter. While watching The Lion King 1½, I tried to figure out what my own viewpoint was regarding this movie. I know that many Disney fans are wary of the direct-to-video movies, as I have mixed feelings of them as well. Ah-ohhhh.īeing a fan of the first Lion King, I was definitely looking forward to this movie, but I knew there was really no way it could be as good as the original. Pumbaa: Hakuna Matata - It means "no worries". Timon: HEY! How can you dance at a time like this? I'm DYIN' here!. Timon: He had the perfect name for it, too. Pumbaa: I'll just whip up a little something. For fans of the original Lion King film, The Lion King 1 ½ is a must-watch.Timon: The monkey was right! We found it! The perfect life! It’s packed with heart, good music, and self-referential humor. The movie is held up by two excellent performances from Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella, who slide back into character with ease. At the same time, it’s a story that produces both hearty laughs and surprising emotion. By focusing on Timon and Pumbaa, the story feels natural in its laid back attitude and silly tone. Overall, The Lion King 1 ½ is an interesting and unique spin-off that blends together familiar and new content to exceptional results. Generally speaking, the movie feels like less of a spin-off and more of a natural addition, given the personalities of the two focal characters. At times, it’s incredibly funny and sheds new light on some of our favorite characters. The comedy ranges from slapstick humor and gross-out gags to pop culture references and fourth-wall breaks. The music is quite catchy too, including a handful of new tunes that stand up alongside the originals. This perspective gives the audience a humorous insight on events from the original movie and gives The Lion King 1 ½ a unique personality and charm. Timon runs into Pumbaa soon thereafter, and the pair strike up an immediate friendship and begin searching for a new home together.Īs the story progresses, the movie occasionally shifts back to the Mystery Science Theater-like segments, with both characters offering some commentary. Before long, he runs into the mystical monkey Rafiki (voiced by Robert Guillaume), who teaches him the philosophy of “Hakuna Matata”. Timon, struggling to fit in with his family of meerkats, sets off for life on his own. The pair rewind the movie to its opening scene, and then take us to before the birth of Simba, where we see the origins of both characters.
