Review of The Return of Jafar (1994) by André L — 25 Feb 2009

I wasn't the hugest fan of Disney's ALADDIN, but even still I was curious when I learned that a direct-to-video sequel was being made. But THE RETURN OF JAFAR falls far, far short of even the original; the animation standards are more akin to the cartoon series of the same title and as such, are lacking in the rich detail found in the original (the carpet in particular, loses its charm without the CGI-aided effects).

The plot itself also feels very rushed, with annoying cases of some characters being put on reset and/or grossly changed from the original; why would Aladdin lie to Jasmine again after learning the error of doing so in the original? Iago decides to side with Aladdin and company and reform? There has also been disappointment expressed from many that the Genie is voiced by Dan Castellanetta of SIMPSONS fame.

That really isn't the biggest problem with the movie--Castellanetta is talented enough and does a decent job in his own right. The major flaw with THE RETURN OF JAFAR is that it's not very memorable; alas, that applies to the music as well--the songs here, save for the opening "Arabian Nights" (recycled from the original), are both bland and forgettable.

THE RETURN OF JAFAR has its moments (the only time the film really comes to life is at the climactic showdown in a lava pit), but is still pretty mediocre overall. Alas, the success of this video led to more direct-to-video sequels--even though the second sequel to ALADDIN is considerably better than this one.