Raya and the Last Dragon is officially certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, according to critic scores.
According to the Tomatometer, Raya and the Last Dragon currently boasts a 96 percent rating out of 89 reviewers. "Another gorgeously animated, skillfully voiced entry in the Disney canon, Raya and the Last Dragon continues the studio's increased representation while reaffirming that its classic formula is just as reliable as ever," the website's Critics Consensus wrote. No audience score has been revealed on the website as of yet.
In addition to boasting a more action-oriented direction in its trailers and Super Bowl promo compared to previous Disney animated movies, Raya and the Last Dragon also notably contains a predominantly Southeast Asian cast and world inspired by Southeast Asian culture. This extends to its fight scenes, which, according to new footage for Raya and the Last Dragon, showcase characters battling each other with techniques native to that region, like muay Thai and Krabi-Krabong.
The story of Raya takes place in a world known as Kumandra, which comprises the five dragon-themed regions Heart, Fang, Spine, Talon and Tail, and was formally guarded by living dragons until they sacrificed themselves 500 years ago to stop the Druun forces from overrunning humanity. Since then, the five regions have grown more estranged. After an attempt to reunite the regions again goes wrong, Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) must seek out the water dragon Sisu (Awkwafina) in hopes of saving the world from a revived Druun. To do this, however, she must rebuild the fragile trusts between regions in order to give Kumandra's people a true fighting chance.
Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada from a script by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim, Raya and the Last Dragon stars Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong, Izaac Wang, Thalia Tran, Alan Tudyk, Lucille Soong, Patti Harrison and Ross Butler. The film arrives in theaters and on Disney+ Premiere Access Friday, March 5.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes