Welcome to The Morning After, where I share with you what movies I’ve seen over the past week. Below, you will find short reviews of those movies along with a star rating. Full length reviews may come at a later date.

So, here is what I watched this past week:

Raya and the Last Dragon

For the longest time, Walt Disney Animation focused entirely on bringing written works to life whether it was fairy tales or classic works of literature. Only in recent years have they really stepped away from that model. Raya and the Last Dragon is one such work, taking bits and pieces of Southeast Asian culture and infusing them into an organic whole with an inventive and creative story filled with fascinating details.

Set in a dystopian future, Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) is the daughter of a once mighty defender of an orb containing the last bit of dragon magic, used to hold back a vile enemy that feeds off negative energy. After the orb is shattered, Raya goes in search of the last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), who she hopes to can help rid the land of these once defeated enemies before the claim the last of civilization.

The film’s focus on disunity as a source of conflict is a compelling narrative focus that looks towards trust, harmony, and solidarity. In the fractious world we live in, it’s a strong metaphor for modern society. Teaching children valuable lessons in acceptance and tolerance has been a part of Disney’s heritage from as far back as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and in bits and pieces throughout its history. As imaginative as Disney is with its productions, the film feels incomplete, moving from one set piece to another with a driving storyline that over simplifies the context. This very much feels like the result of a rush in production that allows for some gorgeous animated backdrops, but also keeps its kid-friendly animated character styles, making for an odd dichotomy.

Disney has done some great work in the past, but this feature feels like it could have used a few more passes to shore up its identity. And for a film that hangs on the notion of trust, Disney’s lack of faith in the film is evident not just through its rocky production history, but in how it allowed the best elements to be dragged down by antiquated or uninspired notions.