Red River Scrapbook
Critical Couch Potato reviews the DVD "The Lion King 1 1/2"
By J Osborne
Feb 9, 2004
Lion King 1 1/2 hits the shelves of retailers and rental stores this Tuesday (Feb. 10). OK, this one is a hit. Humorous situations, funny lines and catchy music make for a great combination when added to the story of the Lion King.
The music alone makes Lion King 1 1/2 worth seeing. The music is a happy, tuneful collection of songs that are catchy enough that the youngsters will enjoy them and the adults will too.
The songs include:
1. Grazing in the Grass: a great take-off of Raison in the sun.
2. Digga Tunnah Dance: a really catchy song that encapsulates a meerkats life. Timon’s relatives all are advocates of the song’s advice. The chorus goes:
“Dig-a-Tunnah (tunnel),
dig-a, dig-a tunnah,
Keep a diggin’,
never geta done-a.”
3. Hakuna Matata: is the same song from the original Lion King. What makes this one so fantasticly humorous is while Timon is trying to remember the phrase, Pumbaa continually interrupts him with dishes of food, such as: Hot Tuna Fritata, Spinach Armada, A spoon of Ricotta, A Kahuna Colada, A blue enchilada, A wormy piccata, Legumes on a Plota (platter) and so forth. Pumbaa tastes the last dish and comments this ought to be hottah. Well, I guess you gotta be there.
4. That's All I Need
5. The Lion Sleeps Tonight: is played during scenes showing the cub Simba, living with the meerkat and the wart hog and the 3 of them trying to sleep.
6. Jungle Boogie
7. Timon's Traveling Theme
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| Timon, Pumbaa and Simba enjoy a natural gas hot tub |
8. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: played during a duel between Simba and Timon -- a snail eating duel – Simba wins.
The Lion King 1 1/2 is shamelessly, broadly funny. The Kids will love it because of the gross stuff – warthogs and meerkats, it seems eat bugs and worms; they will love it because of the references to flatulence, they will love it because it is a comfortable familiar story dressed differently and they will love it because it is funny.
Adults will catch scenes from other Disney animated features in the movie – the most obvious is when Timon and Pumbaa are eating a bowl of worms and bugs and they start chomping on opposing ends of the same worm. It ends in a kiss, but the two don’t appear to get the same inspiration as the two canines did in “Lady and the Tramp.”
The Lion King 1 1/2 is a sequel that retells the original film's story from the perspective of Timon the meerkat (voiced by Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa the warthog (Ernie Sabella). It's actually not so much a Lion King sequel as a Lion King Midquel, coming as it does between the re-release of “The Lion King” and the re-release of “The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.” Although Disney Studios in Australia, according to what I've read prefer "interquel" rather than midquel, sequel or prequel.
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| Pumbaa, Timon and Simba, the cub, sleep |
Anyone who has wondered how this odd couple met will find out here, beginning with Timon's flight from home following disgrace and his chance encounter with Pumbaa.
With the arrival of young Simba (Shaun Flemming), The Lion King's familiar tale is retold but from a different point of view, a fresh angle. Many of the characters in the original are returning characters: Rafiki the wise monkey (Robert Guillaume), Shenzi (Whoopi Goldberg), and Simba's love interest, Nala (Moira Kelly).
The animation isn’t quite as lush as in the original theatrical film, but with this cast and script, viewers who notice will quickly get over it.
Voice Cast: Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Ernie Sabella, Julie Kavner and Jerry Stiller
Lion King 1 1/2
Rating (**** out of *****)
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| Uncle Max, Timon and his mom disagree about Timon's plans |
Synopsis: (Courtesy of Buena Vista Home Entertainment) Hilarity reigns in this all-new motion picture starring Timon and his windy pal Pumbaa -- the greatest unsung heroes of the savanna!
With original voice cast and featuring music by Elton John and Tim Rice, THE LION KING 1 1/2 takes you waaay back to the beginning before Simba's tale began ... and beyond!
In this all-new comedy-adventure, Timon and Pumbaa reveal where they came from, when they met, and how they helped Simba save the Serengeti.
Their story includes glimpses into some big events from THE LION KING that look a little different from Timon and Pumbaa's perspective — such as when King Mufasa introduced baby Simba to the animal kingdom. Let's just say there was something behind that dramatic moment when all the animals bowed to their new ruler!
Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Ernie Sabella, and the original voice cast return for this hysterical musical tale -- and meet colorful new characters like Timon's Ma (Julie Kavner, THE SIMPSONS) and Uncle Max (Jerry Stiller, THE KING OF QUEENS)!
With all your favorite characters, the music you love, and more, get ready for some king-sized fun with Timon and Pumbaa!
DVD Features:
Region 1
Limited Edition Collectible Package
Letterboxed Widescreen - 1.78
Audio:
• Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
• DTS 5.1 Digital Surround Sound
• THX-Certified
DISC 1:
Movie
Additional Release Material:
• Deleted Scenes
Interactive Features:
• Game - 1. "Find the Hidden Mickeys"
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| Pumbaa serves Timon a selection of grubs |
DISC 2:
Additional Release Material:
Featurettes
• 1. "Timon & Pumbaa's Virtual Safari 1.5"
• 2. "The Making of THE LION KING 1 1/2"
• 3. "Timon: Beyond the Legend"
• 4. Music Videos"
• Audio Outtakes - 1. Nathan Lane
Interactive Features:
Game
• 1. "Who Wants to Be King of the Jungle?"
• 2. "Name that Character"
MPAA Rating: G
Running Time:
