Wish Review
Theatrical Movie Review - Disney - Animated
The first film I remember seeing in a theater was Disney’s “Pinocchio.” My life-long love of cinema started with Disney and the song “When You Wish Upon a Star.” As Disney celebrates its centennial, they are trying to capture the magic of 100 years of animated hits with the new film “Wish,” co-directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn.
In the Kingdom of Rosas, the magical King Magnifico (Chris Pine) rules over all. Each year, on their 18th birthday, the citizens of Rosas give their wishes to the King who protects them, occasionally granting those wishes as he sees fit. When Asha (Ariana DeBose) is interviewing to be the King’s apprentice, she discovers that there is a darkness to him that leads her to wish on a star. Asha, along with her goat friend Valentino (Alan Tudyk) and all of her friends, must find a way to give the citizens of Rosas their wishes and save the kingdom.
I wanted to love this movie, but I did not. Because this means to celebrate 100 years of Disney animation, it leans heavily into Easter eggs and nostalgia, but the script from writers Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore is so generic that none of this fan service works to enhance the story that they’re telling.
The performances from both DeBose and Pine are great. DeBose has a stunning singing voice, and it is a joy to hear her belt out these songs. Unfortunately, these are largely forgettable tunes, and no amount of polish from DeBose can fix that. Pine brings plenty of character to the king, but I fear his villain will be lost almost as soon as it leaves theaters.
This isn’t to say that his movie doesn’t have some emotional resonance. The film's climax is a powerful reprise of the titular song “Wish,” and it left me in tears. But because so much of the film centers on the idea of wishes, I found myself wanting that concept explained more thoroughly. The word “wish” is a very Disney term, and in this context, I found myself desiring a more fleshed-out definition. If we had seen what having a wish meant to people prior to giving it up, I think the entire story could have been significantly more powerful.
Disney has always been one of the most reliable sources for a magical experience in the theater. They have created movies that have delighted children and adults alike for a century. In trying to make this film one to celebrate their accomplishments over the decades, they forgot to imbue it with the same magic that made them so popular.
The tagline for this movie is “Be careful what you wish for.” While I don’t think that’s what this movie is about, it does feel like a warning that Disney should take to heart. Right now, they seem to be relying on good faith to carry them through, but without returning to inventive, fantastical ideas, there aren’t enough stars here or in the sky to save them.
This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on November 26, 2023.