Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) Review

So this film has finally been put on Disney+ at no extra cost and I watched Raya and the Last Dragon today and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a young woman go on a hunt for the last dragon and a way to unite the kingdom of Kumandra. 

Main Character

Kelly Marie Tran voices Raya and she is a really good character. She is your typical Disney heroine but there is no doubt that the formula works and she is somebody that you will support and want to see succeed. She is a great action hero that has an actual character arc which is pretty well realised and makes her a cool and memorable character. 

Supporting Characters

This film has a legit voice cast. Awkwafina voices The Last Dragon and the dynamic between her and Raya is one of the large parts of the film, she does go a bit over the top at times and this is no Aladdin and Genie but it works well enough. Gemma Chan voices Raya's rival and she does a good job and the conflict between them is also a well done part of the film and risen up by the quality of voice actor. Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh and Benedict Wong al all do good jobs in their roles and add plenty to the lore of the film and the characters. 

Story 

The story is okay, it is cool seeing the different elements of the culture and the fun adventure quest between a likeable group of characters as they go to these places. But there is no denial that this film is pretty cliché and formulaic, there were scenes that I predicted what was going to happen before it happened and that was disappointing. I get that the Disney formula does work, but it is 2021 and maybe some risks need to be taken in order to make it stand out from the rest. 

Script 

The script has some nice heart-warming moments and comedic elements in it that again feels like it fits the world that is being portrayed on screen. But again, some of the comedy is repetitive and dull with the drama feeling again like you have seen it before and it doesn't bring enough new to the table. 

Style 

The film has a really good style about it, the computer graphics is mind blowing and it is amazing how animation has developed as the technology has. The action scenes are glorious and the colour pallets and design are really great to look at. I just feel like this film has a slight pacing problem, the middle act for me wasn't that great and felt like it transitioned between locations quite quickly and failed to keep me as interested as the first and last acts did. 

Overall

Overall, Raya and the Last Dragon is a good film. It plays itself a bit safe and you have seen the overall themes before but it is a fun family film that is a good watch for sure. 

Rating - 7/10