Exhilarating highs--preachy, syrupy lows...

Rating: 6/10 (5 February 2007)

Great-looking but preachy, "uplifting" Disney animated opus from an original story concerns a young jungle lion who has gone into a sort of self-imposed exile after blaming himself for his father's demise, soon befriended by two clowning creatures who help teach the cub about Life. Fine voice-work from Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg, James Earl Jones and Nathan Lane, many exciting and amusing moments, but nearly left sodden by a cloying, sugary song-score by Elton John and Tim Rice, with every tune underlining the "message" inherent in each sequence. Much of the talk is just Psychobabble 101, making the last fifteen or so minutes a chore to get through. The craftsmanship of the film's designers is really something to see, despite the fact the picture only won Oscars for its music (the score and the song, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight", which sounds like a commercial jingle). **1/2 from ****