At the recent White House Correspondents’ dinner, President Barack Obama flaunted his comedic side by informing the audience he would halt the rumors that he was born in Kenya by revealing his birth video. What began playing was the opening scene from the Disney classic ‘The Lion King,’ showing the baby Simba being presented to the entire jungle.

Despite it obviously being a gag, Obama wanted to make sure conservatives didn’t take it seriously and said, ‘I want to make clear to the Fox News table that was a joke. … Call Disney if you don’t believe me.’

‘The Lion King’ was different from its other Disney counterparts. It was more than just a typical boy meets girl, falls in love and sappily lives happily ever after. Cue vomit. The loveable protagonist Simba was flawed, Scar was a diabolical villain, and the dead stayed dead, even though everyone wanted Mufasa’s resurrection.

But never fear — it was balanced with comedic relief found in Disney’s two funniest characters: Timon and Pumbaa. No child could resist laughing with lines such as:

‘Man, I’m stuffed.’

‘Me, too, I ate like a pig.’

‘Pumbaa, you are a pig.’

or

‘Gee, he looks blue.’

‘I’d say brownish-gold.’

‘No, no, no. I mean he’s depressed.’

‘Oh.’

And it’s clearly not a Disney movie if it doesn’t teach some important life lessons. Students running around campus playing ‘Humans vs. Zombies,’ take note of Mufasa’s pouncing lessons. That tactic will help you win. You’re welcome.

Besides, some of the catchiest Disney songs are on the soundtrack, such as ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,’ ‘Circle of Life’ and ‘Hakuna Matata.’  Who doesn’t know the words, seriously?

‘The Lion King’ is one of those movies that can be cherished at any age, and its words still ring true: ‘Hakuna Matata, it means no worries for the rest of your days.’

— Compiled by Colleen Bidwill, asst. feature editor, cbidwil@syr.edu

Published on May 1, 2011 at 12:00 pm