Mulan Review: 6 Ups & 4 Downs

3. Mushu's Absence Is Sorely Felt

Though the new Mulan mostly gets away with ditching the beloved musical licks of its animated predecessor, far more divisive is the exclusion of Mulan's beloved dragon sidekick Mushu, played with exuberant glee by Eddie Murphy in the 1998 film.

Given that Aladdin similarly toned down sidekick Iago, it seems to speak to Disney's desire to strip away the more outwardly "ridiculous" elements of these live-action remakes, but considering how Mushu accounts for so much of the animated film's heart and soul, his absence is sorely felt here.

While it certainly would've been a challenge to update the character for a grittier and more serious style, it was absolutely possible. Instead, Disney just cast him aside, with rumours suggesting this was due to the character's negative reception in China.