The Lion King 1 1/2

Release Date: February 10, 2004

Watch Date: July 2, 2023

“In this comedy-adventure, Timon and Pumbaa reveal where they came from, where 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 and Ernie Sabella return for this hysterical musical tale, plus meet colorful new characters like Timon’s Ma (Julie Kavner) and Uncle Max (Jerry Stiller).”

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    Bob has “WALL-E” and I, it turns out, have “The Lion King 1 1/2”. This was something I didn’t really know about myself until it came time to watch this movie – and yes it should have been “The Shaggy Dog” next but it was date night, there were no children, and we just couldn’t bring ourselves to spend the evening watching a film from the 50s, sorry, we just couldn’t do it. But suddenly, as it began, I needed Bob to stop idly chatting, I needed him to focus, I needed him to get it, and the only way I could explain why to him was by telling him that this movie was my “WALL-E”…which then meant we had to pause the movie and dive into why it is my “WALL-E” which had to do with the whole ending of childhood and loss of innocence and fond memories of my family gathered together in front of the television and anyways this movie is pretty darn important to me, and probably one of my favorite movies of all time and I don’t care that it’s a Straight-To-VHS-Sequel, it’s fantastic.

    And, look, maybe I’m biased, but this is a really, really, strong movie. The animation is fluid, fantastic, and would be perfectly at home on the big screen. The three main characters have their voice actors reprising their roles from the original, which is an absolute get three movies and a full decade after the original film came out. The songs are catchy as hell, the way they weave Timon and Pumbaa’s story into the greater whole of “The Lion King” is done wonderfully, the jokes are on point, it’s all just really, really good.

    I’m going to try to stop repeating the word really in this post, but I cannot over stress how strong I think this movie it is.

    I’ve already mentioned what it does best, but it does it so well that I’m going to reiterate it. Timon and Pumbaa are side characters, they’re Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Important to the character growth of Simba, sure, and serve a function in the plot, but not, ultimately where your main focus should be. They’re the comedic relief. So to deepen their characters beyond that, to have them take actions in the original movie that influence it, even slightly, was a big risk. And it pays off. They do it so well. The little ways in which Timon and Pumbaa interact with the main plot of “The Lion King” only adds to the original, but, if you don’t want to imagine them at the elephant graveyard, or in the intro sequence, you don’t have to. Their character’s become deeper and richer, and it makes their relationship with Simba, why they would follow him away from their home to support him in the fight against Scar, how proud they must feel as he takes his rightful place as King of the Pridelands, after having raised him, that much more evident.

    The two new characters are in this film enough to boost Timon’s story, without taking away any screen time from the moments that matter, and it serves as a way to give Timon a happy ending that’s seperate from the plot of “The Lion King” and allows this movie to stand on it’s own two legs. Does Timon’s mom’s voice get a little grating at time, for sure, but that’s Marge Simpson for you, and what are you going to do?

    Now, we probably did a disservice to the rest of the Straight-To-VHS-Sequels because, in my extremely honest opinion, none of them are going to top “The Lion King” series, and they’re all going to look so much worse in comparison. Their only hope, really, is that we don’t pick another one for a good long time, and our palate is sufficiently cleansed by the time we naturally get around to them. But for now, it’s back to the 50s we go, to end the decade and move on up in time with our marathon.

    But seriously, honestly, truly, watch this film. Even if you watch no other Disney sequels, even if you never take our recommendations seriously. Watch this film.

Bob’s Note:

    This movie is better than Fantasia, and more enjoyable than the rest of it’s series.