Common Sense Media Review
A genie that should have stayed in the bottle.
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Why Age 5+?
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Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say the sequel fails to meet the high standards set by the original, with many criticizing its boring plot, poor animation, and lackluster writing. However, some fans appreciate it for its appeal to children and the fun adventure elements, believing that younger audiences might enjoy the harmless content and music despite the overall disappointing execution.
- boring plot
- poor animation
- kids' appeal
- near original
- disappointing sequel
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In this made-for-video sequel, wicked Jafar returns to Agrabah after a clumsy bandit sets him free from the lamp in which he was imprisoned. But, because he must obey the genie's law and not kill on his own, Jafar uses his rescuer as a tool of revenge against his wrongdoers. Aladdin, Jafar's primary target, is now a royal advisor. He manages to stay in the good graces of the Sultan and Princess Jasmine until Iago the parrot, obeying Jafar, double-crosses him. With his friends in chains, Aladdin must first prove that he didn't kill the Sultan, then find a way to destroy Jafar's lamp, thus destroying Jafar.
Is It Any Good?
THE RETURN OF JAFAR has the general look of its predecessor, but this made-for-video sequel doesn't possess the wit or integrity of Disney's Aladdin. The cast is mostly the same, with welcome newcomer Jason Alexander as the greedy thief Abis Mal whose lamp-rubbing sets Jafar loose. The obvious missing ingredient here is Robin Williams, whose manic ad-libbing as the blue Genie in Aladdin had animators scribbling madly to keep up. He's replaced by Dan Castellaneta, who does a fine job but lacks Williams' spontaneity.
New songs yield a couple of good production numbers. They don't help the story much, though, which five people are credited with thinking up, and eight people(!) are credited with writing. The elements are all there -- they just lack focus and ingenuity. For that, blame the three directors and two producers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about where they get the courage to do things they are scared of. How did Alladin find work up the courage to free himself and his loved ones? How do you react when you've been accused of something you didn't do?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 20, 1994
- On DVD or streaming : July 14, 1998
- Cast : Dan Castellaneta , Jason Alexander , Scott Weinger
- Director : Toby Shelton
- Studio : Walt Disney Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Run time : 66 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : all audiences
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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