Review: Raya and the Last Dragon – “A charming and exciting adventure”

Growing up, I never really liked “princess” movies. The characters were one-dimensional, and every female character served as a plot device for their male counterpart. Within the last few years, Disney has tried to bring new life to its female characters. With Raya and the Last Dragon, I can finally say Disney has achieved something extraordinary regarding girl power. 

There are no ballgowns or princes to impress in Raya and the Last Dragon. Instead, this is a film centered around culture and religion, which is ambitious when it comes to the House of Mouse. 

Kumandra was a peaceful and beautiful land protected by dragons but, a sinister monster called the Druun came and spread like a plague, turning all life it touched into stone. 

To save the land of Kumandra, dragons sacrificed themselves and created a precious gemstone that blasted the Druun away. 

All life came back, but instead of living in harmony, Kumandra divided into 5 sections, each trying to obtain the stone and possess the last piece of dragon magic. 

Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) is a guardian of the dragon gemstone along with her father, who believes one day their divided people will be brought back together to live in peace. Unfortunately, the people soon squash his dream by stealing the gemstone, breaking it into pieces, and releasing the Druun once more. 

Years go by, and Raya is all alone except for her adorable side-kick, Tuk Tuk. Together they embark on an adventure to bring back the dragon Sisu (Awkwafina) and reclaim all of the broken gemstone pieces. A few unlikely heroes join them along the way to fix what was broken and bring their loved ones back. 

What Disney does well, especially in recent years, is tell a very adult story with complicated themes in a way a child could understand. This is what makes Raya and the Last Dragon so enjoyable for the whole family. 

The story has a lot going on. There are multiple characters, five locations, and a deep mythology. Usually, when this happens, the viewer can get lost, especially if they are a kid. But the film is so well structured that it’s easy to keep up. 

There is enough time spent with each character and location to know who they are, where they come from, and their motivations. The world is so beautifully built I hope there is a sequel, maybe even a Disney Plus show to explore more of it. 

The animation was spectacular, especially when it comes to the scenery. And the fight sequences were well choreographed. A few moments had me on the edge of my seat, and you really can see the characters’ strength.

Speaking of strong characters, this film is filled with them, and they are mostly female. This could have easily slid into the ‘pitting females against each other’ category, but it never goes there. Each woman has their own purpose and drive and is never shown as ‘evil.’

There’s also an all-star cast that voiced their characters to perfection, Awkwafina being one of them. Her carefree and fun attitude brought her character to life, but her sweet and dramatic moments will move you to tears.

Raya and the Last Dragon is a charming and exciting adventure. It’s brought to life by jaw-dropping animation and excellent voice acting. There are universal themes of family, trust, and culture that will greatly impact anyone who watches it. It’s a beautiful film from start to finish that will leave kids and adults feeling inspired and empowered. 

So, is it worth the premium Disney Plus price tag? Yes! I would even say it’s also worth a second watch.