Timon and Pumbaa once again make the show

Rating: 6/10 (29 July 2019)

First the good: The cinematography is nothing short of awe inspiring. Seth Rogan (whom i must admit i don't usually care for) is charmingly funny and brings a more rounded performance as Pumbaa. The dynamic between Billy Eichner and Rogan is, as in the original, he highlight of the show. Donald Glover is spit on as the adult Simba, and an idea addition to the cast. I actually preferred him to Matthew Broderick's in the original.
The bad: While Beyonce's Nala is more palatable than Scar, the songs felt overdone and overly showy (which is saying quite a bit as this film is supposed to be showy. I found the runs and riffs unnecessary and distracting at best. The addition of "Spirit" is shameless promotion at its most basic. Added absolutley nothing to the masterful score by Elton and Tim Rice.
And then there's Scar. Perhaps one of the most iconic villains in Disney cannon, Chiwetel Ejiofor's performance is beyond disappointing. Where Jeremy Irons' original performance was intriguing in a Tony Hopkins as Hannibal Lechter sort of way Ejiofor is flat (both figuratively and literally. Be Prepared is a lamentable mess. I understand that Ejiofor struggled with the piece (which is not a difficult one to sing by any stretch), to half speak abridged lines without the emotion and rage bubbling just below the surface left me stunned (and not in a good way). Ejiofor's casting was a huge mistake. The original casting of a caucasian man with a british accent, imho, added to the story by subtly personifying and providing commentary on the colonialist political history of Africa. Scar was a mess and that's not even touching on the lackluster visualization. Yes, Scar is the ultimate outcast, but the visual appearance of the CGI version is more disturbing than anything else and just doesn't fit with the arrogance and overblown confidence the character calls for.
Im equally disappointed by the stripping of the many jokes and quips among the hyenas and the removal of the hilariously off beat and over the top hula bit.
All im all, it's a visual masterclass (save Scar) and a well rounded cast (save Eijofor). Simply bringing back Irons in the role of Scar would have brought my review from a 6 to an 8 star. If you cannot sing a simple song then you should not be cast. Favreau fails. miserably in that regard.
I do miss Nathan Lane's flamboyance as well, but Eichner is an acceptable substitute.

Anyway, worth the view but I would probably advise skipping the theater and waiting for the streaming/blu ray release.