Completely pointless, boring sequel exhibits the repetitive Circle of Life at Disney

It’s the Circle of Life at Disney — one other boring sequel has been born.

Truly, the lackluster “Mufasa: The Lion King” is each a sequel and a prequel to the 1994 traditional that was already needlessly remade in 2019.

The existence of this follow-up, one way or the other directed by Barry Jenkins of “Moonlight,” is equally puzzling.

Its origin story about how Simba’s pop got here of age and ascended the throne is as skinny as a reed however elephantine in tempo. With so many look-alike lions who’re laborious to inform aside and repetitive motion sequences that numb the noggin, you suppose, “Oh, I just can’t wait to be home!”

Regardless of the nonstop peril, the money seize stays a musical. The generically upbeat songs are by Lin-Manuel Miranda quite than the unique’s Elton John and Tim Rice. That duo upended the Home of Mouse’s Nineteen Eighties and ’90s components by composing pop hits quite than present tunes and bought a smash in return.

Miranda’s gentler tracks bop alongside in a way extra akin to kids’s TV — albeit with out earworms — for worry of being too scary or humorous.

The numbers “I Always Wanted a Brother” and “Bye Bye” are cutesy, watered-down copycats of “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” and “Be Prepared.”

And since “Mufasa” is as soon as once more animated in that terrible photorealistic type, we watch what look like precise, expressionless lions awkwardly sing these little ditties.

The facial actions are a bit higher than they had been in 2019, sure, however nonetheless bizarre. The design is a technological feat, which makes it no much less improper for cartoon materials. Shouldn’t these “Planet Earth” creatures be off killing gazelles?

Legacies, extra like.

“Mufasa” begins sooner or later with a grown-up Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter), who’ve a daughter of their very own, Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter).

When Simba heads off searching for his spouse, he leaves Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa (John Kani, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, respectively) to babysit scared Kiara and inform her the story of her late grandpa.

The framing machine — Timon and Pumbaa sing a parody known as “Hakana Mufasa” and crack dumb jokes concerning the Broadway present — is twee as the remaining. Its misguided inclusion is why this film is a bloated two hours.

Little Mufasa’s journey begins in earnest when a flood washes him far-off from his non-royal dad and mom to the clan of a king and queen, Obasi (Lennie James) and Eshe (Thandiwe Newton).

Obasi hates him — “When we come upon an outsider, what do we do? Eat it!” — however Eshe and her son, Taka, need the tyke to remain.

Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) will get older and turns into expert at studying nature from the wind — a ok a, there’s a herd of whatevers over yonder.

Finally, he ventures off along with his adoptive brother, Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), searching for the fabled land of Milele, a paradise the place his new clan will be secure from the Outsiders, a fearsome group of white lions led by Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen).

A bonus: possibly his dad and mom are there, too.

A fairly lioness Sarabi (Tiffany Boone) additionally joins the trek and places a wedge between Taka and Mufasa, who she will get cozy with. Frankly, I couldn’t really feel the love tonight.

Jenkins does present a couple of visible thrills, particularly his fishbowl close-ups on Mufasa throughout chases. However they by no means really feel like they belong in “The Lion King.”

On this overstuffed journey, we additionally study the place smart Rafiki, royal aide Zazu, evil Scar and even Delight Rock come from. Who cares? The backstories solely make us crave the peerless 2D authentic.

In 1994, “The Lion King” was an enormous and daring danger for Disney. The movie was a “Hamlet” riff that had no princesses and even people; it wasn’t composed by hitmakers Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. The so-called “B-team” was on it. Clearly, the transfer paid off.

In that movie, the fallen Mufasa has some phrases for Simba that Disney ought to heed: “You are more than what you have become.”