As a highly nostalgic '90s baby, I was unsure of how the live-action remake of Mulan could top the animated version of my childhood without Eddie Murphy's Mushu or the iconic (though toxically masculine) jam "I'll Make a Man Out of You." But dang, Disney did it, and it did Mulan even better. In 2020, Mulan (Liu Yifei) doesn't need Mushu for assurance, and her legendary story doesn't need to be set to fun songs — she's an empowered badass, and all she needs is to harness her own mental and physical strength to unleash the fierce warrior she is. This live-action movie is one I can't wait to watch with my kids one day, to show them that what a person is told they can't or shouldn't do as a result of gender stereotypes is all a fallacy — they can be whoever and whatever they see fit.
That said, as the film is live-action and not an animated movie filled with comic relief, there are a few small things to be aware of before sitting down to watch with your young kids. Poke through those footnotes ahead, then gather your family for a Mulan movie night — you can purchase the film on Disney+ now!