Raya and the Last Dragon: Film Review

Cast: Kelly Marie Tran, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina, Daniel Dae Kim, Benedict Wong

Directors: Don Hall, Carlos Lopez Estrada

Meshing a quest with the traditional mismatched buddy road comedy, Raya And The Last Dragon sees Disney try to create a new world to be mined - and a new mythology to be explored.

And it's largely successful, even if the messaging within the film is a little too overt and obvious, lacking the subtlety of what Disney films have managed before.

In this latest, Star Wars' Kelly Marie Tran is Raya, a would-be warrior in the kingdom of Kumandra, a world where dragons and humans once lived together. But when a mystical force called the Druun invaded, all the dragons were turned to stone as they sacrificed themselves for humanity.

500 years later, and the Druun have mysteriously returned, and the kingdom is under threat again - not just from the Druun but also from the differing factions of Tail, Talon, Fang, Spine and Heart which make up the splinter groups of the world. And when Raya is betrayed, the future of everyone's world is less than obvious...can Raya learn to trust again and save Kumandra?

From its Tomb Raider-style and Raiders of the Lost Ark opening to its How To Train Your Dragon's Toothless inspired water dragon, via way of Elsa from Frozen and XBox game Recore ethic, Raya and the Last Dragon juggles many influences on its earnest sleeve.

But with its aforementioned lack of subtle messaging (the heart can't function without the tail, or the other parts) and the overt pushing of idealistic learning to trust, there is a feeling that Raya and the Last Dragon doesn't quite hit the highs of previous Disney films and their desire to educate.

Plus, the Druun, swirling purple and black blobs as they are, feel underdeveloped as mystical bad guys - and equally, the human baddies in the film never fully feel rotten to the core, more misguided in their actions, and decent at heart.

Yet, there is much to love in Raya and the Last Dragon.

Despite the arguments over the casting, the film's luscious and verdant vistas and wonderful use of colours looks stunning. The hues pop from the screen and the film's proud to wear its Eastern influence like a badge of honour. 

There's a potential spinoff character in the making in a baby and his accomplices from one land that would be more than tolerable - and could be the new Scrat, now the Ice Age animation studio has folded.

And at its heart, is Tran, a centred and soulful performer who delivers a subtlety to Raya that's admirable, and restrained. Awkwafina easily steals the show with the best lines and an out there goofball energy, but it's Tran that grounds her Raya in ways that are understated.

Her journey with the brash and boisterously positive and self-deprecating Awkwafina is beautifully and empoweringly put together, giving Raya and the Last Dragon the poignancy it needs as the quest portion of the film gets underway.

From its swordplay to its flying dragons, the film's Eastern influences shine through, and are brilliantly transposed to the screen with ease.

There's no denying that this is a film of unity, and in times when we are more divided than ever, its timeliness is the one thing that clearly stands out. 

But what also stands out from Raya and the Last Dragon is that Disney is still intent on making old school family films that hit many of the same levels as some of its other successes.

And even if its occasional heavy-handedness stops it from reaching spiritual highs, it's still a journey worth signing up for - and being empowered by.

Raya and the Last Dragon releases in cinemas on March 4 and on Disney+ with Premier Access on March 5