Raya and the Last Dragon

In a nation divided by hard civic borders, plus a generation's worth of simmering distrust, a diplomatic olive branch is extended and then snapped. This betrayal shatters both the uneasy peace and a symbolic crystal, the latter of which unleashes a cloud of spectral monsters and envelops the land in a lasting chaos. Years later, in a dark and dangerous new age, a determined young heiress seeks to heal both wounds by awakening a mythical dragon and gathering the crystal shards.

I'm making this sound stuffier than it really is. Although Raya is driven by her responsibility and the fantastical plot is a little stiff, the periphery is crammed with the standard helping of wacky Disney sidekicks and the culture-rich art direction (an amalgamation of several southeast Asian influences) is breathtaking. Awkwafina is the standout, providing the voice of the enthusiastic, rainbow-themed, re-awakened dragon. Spritely and sarcastic, she bounces her way through an appropriately wacky, joyful role that brings much-needed relief during the heavier scenes and an extra dash of heart elsewhere.

The story is deeply formulaic, though, and the primary plot arc is predictable enough to write in stone within the first twenty minutes. Good, and pretty, enough to merit a family watch, but not something I'll need to revisit any time soon.