COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY PICTURES Mulan, center, helps escort the emperor's three daughters to a neighboring kingdom in "Mulan II," which is being released on home video today.

Murphy is missed
in weak ‘Mulan II’

"Mulan II" (Disney DVD, Rated G, $29.99)

In "Mulan," the original, the girl warrior saves China, but she doesn't quite get her man. She hooks him pretty good, but the object of the tale is duty to family and country, not so much romance, so our lovely heroine doesn't even get to kiss her hunky Li Shang.

"Mulan II" provides closure in that regard, but that's about it.

Where the original was majestic, exciting and full of personality, the sequel is basically annoying. The animation is still beautiful and the voice work charming, but the story is ridiculous and without that you have a whole bag of nothing.

As for that story: Shang proposes to Mulan, but before they can tie the knot, they must save China (again), by escorting the emperor's three daughters to a neighboring kingdom where they (the daughters) will marry the royal sons of that neighborhood, thereby sealing an alliance that (somehow) will protect them all from the evil Mongols.

COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY PICTURES Shang proposes to Mulan, but before they can marry the couple must save China -- again.

The threat to the mission is Mushu, Mulan's guardian-slash-funny-sidekick, who has been led to believe that he will lose his position if Mulan marries. Mushu decides he must break the couple up by sabotaging their task, never mind that China will then stand a good chance of being overrun by Mongol hoards.

As the recurring Asian theme, the screenwriters offer yin-yang, as reflected in the supposed personality differences between Mulan and Shang. That old chestnut pretty much gets beaten to death. Writing credit, such as it is, goes to Michael Lucker, Chris Parker and Roger Schulman, none of whom were involved in the screenplay for "Mulan" Part 1.

Returning voices include Ming-Na as Mulan (which explains some of her absences from "ER"), B.D. Wong as Shang and Pat Morita, stately as ever as the emperor. Lea Salonga again sings for Mulan.

Missing is Eddie Murphy, who brought much high hilarity to the original as the inept dragon Mushu. He is replaced by Mark Moseley, who does a fine Murphy impression, but the writers lean so much on this character that we get quite tired of him.

COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY PICTURES Mulan practices her butt-kicking moves.

Refreshing additions are the voice mistresses of the betrothed princesses -- Lucy Liu (for once getting a part where she doesn't have to butt-kick anyone), Lauren Tom and Sandra Oh, the current Asian It Girl for her supporting role in the Oscar-nominated "Sideways."

Champion skater Michelle Kwan has a small role as a shopkeeper.

DVD extras include deleted scenes -- story nuggets in rough animated form. These are fascinating, offering insight into the complexities of an animated feature.

The obligatory voices-of-the-cast extra has a glaring omission -- no segment on Moseley, whose Mushu is all over this movie. Are they hoping we'll still think it's Murphy?

"Mulan II" will appeal to some kids -- especially girls 8 and under. The secondary audience would be girls around age 14 or 15 -- who were 8 when the first movie came out six years ago.

Everybody else should just watch the original again.