Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat this: Mulan II is the direct-to-video sequel that Disney churned out in the mid-2000s when they were milking every franchise dry. The ratings tell the story—43% on RT, 5.6 on IMDb, 2.8 out of 5 on Letterboxd. This is not good.

The plot is formulaic: escort mission, meddling sidekick, relationship drama, princesses learning to be independent. It hits every beat you'd expect and none you wouldn't. The animation is serviceable but flat. The songs are forgettable. The heart and cultural richness of the original are replaced with... a road trip rom-com?

Is it safe? Sure. Will it traumatize your kid? No. But will they actually enjoy it, or will they just tolerate it because Mulan is on screen? That's the real question. There are so many better options on Disney+ that spending 79 minutes on this feels like a waste when you could watch the original again, or Raya, or Encanto, or literally dozens of other films.

If your 6-year-old is in a Mulan phase and has watched the first one seventeen times, fine, queue this up. But manage expectations. This is the homework assignment, not the field trip.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-8 who are obsessed with the original Mulan and need more content, any content. Older kids will see through the thin plot, and younger kids should just watch the far superior original instead.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

62

The film focuses on marriage, duty, and friendship with positive messaging about following your heart. However, the central conflict relies on Mushu actively sabotaging Mulan's relationship for selfish reasons, which undermines the wholesome messaging. The resolution is positive, but the journey involves significant relationship manipulation and dishonesty from a supposed friend.

Imaginative

38

This direct-to-video sequel lacks the originality and creative spark of the first film. The premise of escorting princesses and a meddling dragon trying to break up a couple is formulaic and uninspired. The cultural setting provides some visual interest, but the story beats are predictable and derivative. No invitation to creative thinking or exploration.

Safe

88

Age-appropriate for young children with a Common Sense Media rating of 5+. No violence, gore, scary content, or inappropriate material. The relationship conflict is emotional but handled gently. The main safety concern is the modeling of dishonesty and manipulation by Mushu, but it's clearly framed as wrong and resolved.

Enriching

45

Themes about choosing love over duty and being true to yourself have some merit, but they're handled in a superficial, paint-by-numbers way. The princesses learning to stand up for themselves offers a positive message, but it's undermined by weak execution. Limited cognitive or emotional growth opportunities. More filler than substance.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Safe, non-scary content appropriate for young kids who loved the first movie
Themes about following your heart and standing up for yourself
The three princesses learning independence has some positive messaging
Might work as background noise during a playdate

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What to Watch For

Mushu spends most of the movie lying and manipulating to break up Mulan and Shang—not great role modeling even if it's eventually called out
The quality drop from the original is jarring; this is bargain-bin Disney
Kids who know the first film may be disappointed by how generic this feels
At 20 years old with direct-to-video production values, it shows its age

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Mushu was trying to break up Mulan and Shang? Was that okay?"
"The princesses had to marry people they didn't choose. How would that feel?"
"What would you do if your friend was lying to you to get what they wanted?"
"Do you think duty to your family is more important than following your heart?"

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