Mar 5, 2021

Reviews of "Raya and the Last Dragon": Despite the dependence on the official, critics are generally positive

Disney's latest feature, Raya and the Last Dragon, marks the latest entry in the Disney princess lineup. It comes out today in select theaters and on Disney+ via Premier Access, which has an additional cost of $29.99. Subscribers who don't want to pay the extra cost will have to wait until June 4, when the movie will become available to all subscribers of Disney+ at no charge.

Here are the trailer and synopsis below:

While it's safe to say that most films experience production woes, between being shifted to remote work mid-production, and a slew of key leadership changes including directors, producers, and the lead voice actor, Raya seemed to struggle a little more than usual behind the scenes. That didn't seem to negatively affect the film too much, as critics' reviews have generally been positive. With a current critic score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, Raya seems to be striking a cord with reviewers who are praising the visuals, performances, and its core message of trust.

Many praise Raya herself, as well as the “antagonist” of the film, the formless entity known as the Druun, which many felt serves as a mirror to today's issues, from what the world will look like post-pandemic, the ongoing threat of climate change, and even a post-Trump America.

The most common criticisms of the film cite Disney's reliance on formulas (albeit enjoyable ones), as well as some mixed ruminations on culture (particularly the salad-bar mix of various Southeast Asian cultures, which split many critics) and how that mixes with Disney's global marketing strategy of attempting diversity while still playing it safe.

There were also criticisms that Kelly Marie Tran, Raya's voice actor, was the only main cast member of Southeast Asian heritage. Tran, who is of Vietnamese descent, stars alongside a cast that are mostly of East Asian descent, specifically Chinese and South Korean, which again speaks to the 'almost, but not quite there' sentiment regarding cultural depictions. Below is a roundup of commentary from films critics.

Justin Chang praises the timely themes and more nuanced messages for the Los Angeles Times:

Angie Han at Mashable criticizes the film's formulas while simultaneously celebrating the results:

AV Club's Danette Chavez praised its handling of carrying on through grief and survivor's guilt:

Beatrice Loayza, while generally positive, comments on Raya's place in the Disney canon for the New York Times:

Alison Willmore speaks to the film as a continuation of Disney's own brand of progressivism, and penchant for extended universes in Vulture:

Richard Lawson praises the film's emotional depths in Vanity Fair:

Raya and the Last Dragon is directed by Don Hall (Big Hero 6), and Carlos López Estrada (Blindspotting). It is co-directed by Paul Briggs and John Ripa, and produced by Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho. It was written by Qui Nguyen (Peg+Cat) and Adele Lim (Crazy Rich Asians).