Disney Animation Archive: Feature Films/Mulan/Plot/index.php

Plot

As Mulan races off to join the soldiers at the training camp, her ancestors meet in the family temple near the Fa house. They decide that Mulan must be returned to the family to spare them the dishonor. They know that if she is revealed as a woman that she will be executed, as this has been Chinese law for centuries. They summon Mushu the dragon (voiced by Eddie Murphy in a scene-stealing role that rivals the Genie from "Aladdin") to collect her. Mushu is one of the many guardians that protect the Fa family, though he has recently been demoted to a mere servant to the greater ancestors. He decides that in order to restore his honor and his place as a true guardian, he must make Mulan into a war hero. So, instead of returning her to her family, he aids her in her quest to pass as a man. Mulan, Mushu, Cri-Kee (Mulan's lucky pet cricket), and Kahn (Mulan's horse) arrive at the training camp for Chinese soldiers. It is here that the only gripe I have about the film comes in. I had read months ago that Eddie Murphy had a song called "Trust Me Babe" in the film. As Mushu and Mulan are entering the camp, Mushu tells Mulan to "trust him". Those who are familiar with Disney films will know when they are building up to a song, as was in this case. I have always thought Eddie had a good voice and was anxiously awaiting this song, and was upset to find it had been cut from the print I saw. Perhaps it was not yet finished or the film was running long. Who knows? If the film stays in it's current incarnation, Mushu will become to first major character in Disney musicals not to sing a song.

Mulan, with the aid of Mushu, trains hard at the war camp. It is there that she meets Shang, a young captain in the Chinese army and the love-interest in the story. He is somewhat bland, as are all the Disney love-interests. Much better are the three fellow soldiers Mulan meets: Ling (skinny), Yao (short, voiced by Harvey Fierstein), and Ling Po (the fat one). They are the comic relief, and have some wonderfully funny moments. One in particular is the skinny-dipping scene, where Mulan is bathing naked in a pond and the three soldiers decide to join in. Desperate to conceal her identity, Mulan creates a diversion and manages to escape, but not before Yao stands naked before her on a boulder and gives the movie's funniest line, "I am Yao, King of the Rock!"

Mulan becomes a fine soldier, and her true identity is still a secret when her battalion is called to join the front lines. They find a village ravaged, burned to the ground, and Shang's father (a general) dead. Shang swears vengeance on Shan Yu. After travelling high into the snow-covered mountains, the battalion is attacked by Huns. Facing insurmountable numbers, Shang's company is almost certain to die. An entire army of Hun warriors spills over the peak of the mountain in a spectacular scene that was done with CGI. Mulan saves the day by aiming a rocket at the peak, sending an avalanche crushing down on the Huns. Mulan is wounded in the avalanche, however, and falls unconscious. When the doctor examines her, her true nature is finally revealed. Disgraced, she is cast out of the battalion by Shang, who spares her life because she saved theirs. He then leaves for the Emperor's palace to tell of the assumed death of Shan Yu.

Mulan and Mushu are alone in the snow at their wit's end, lamenting the fact that they must return home without having restored the Fa family's honor. However, Mulan then witnesses the survival of Shan Yu and a small band of Huns, and overhears their plot to assassinate the Emperor. Mulan decides that she must take it upon herself to warn him, and races off to Imperial City. When she arrives, she watches in horror as Shan Yu captures the Emperor and holds a sword to his throat. Mulan, along with Shang and her three soldier friends, manages to stop Shan Yu (of course) and save the Emperor's life. Mulan then returns home, her family's honor restored. Mushu becomes a guardian again, and everyone is happy as a wonderful fireworks display brings a spectacular end to a great film.