[Rating: Solid Rock Fist Up]
Celebrating 100 years of magic (and some money-making cash grabs), Disney has released its honorary film Wish into its canon. A culmination of years in the making, audiences who have ever wished upon a star will find that stars can come to life and make any wish come true. However for Disney, it is a far cry from the once-fascinating movie studio could produce and ends up a decent film, wanting this critic to wish for a lot more.
In the Kingdom of Rosas, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) rules over the land, taking people’s wishes in return for their own safety. He is a powerful sorcerer who claims he alone can grant the people’s wishes as long as they follow him. When each person in the kingdom turns 18, they give their wishes to the King for safekeeping. Enter Asha (Ariana DeBose) who discovers that King Magnifico isn’t all that magnificent and his desire for wishes are much more sinister. When Asha wishes upon a star, the star falls and the star (named Star) uses its powers to cause a little Disneyfied chaos in the kingdom. Star uses its powers to make Valentino the goat (Disney staple Alan Tudyk) talk, chickens dance in a Broadway style number, and animals talk (what’s new?!). Asha and Star take it upon themselves to help the kingdom before all the wishes are used to the advantage of Magnifico, but will his newfound evil stand in their way?
I thought Wish was cute. I’m a sucker for Disney movies. If you have stayed with me this long, you know that. Yes, the House of Mouse is an entity that owns way too much, but my soft heart for animated features that I yearned for in my youth still remains. Directors Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (storyboard artist for Raya and the Last Dragon) blend CGI of Disney’s present and water-colored backgrounds of Disney’s past so well, this is one of the better looking films of the last few years.
Now of course, the downside. For a celebration of 100 years of magic, music and more, you would think the songs in this would be more…catchy? They’re fine. A big highlight is a song sung by some animals (with a cameo appearance from a famous deer), but its the villain song that drove me nuts. It’s a villain whining, which is fine, but not “scary” nor impactful enough. I need a villain with stakes in a song and reason to sing, and this one lacked.
I am shocked Alan Menken, Lin-Manuel Miranda, or the Lopez’s who have made Disney songs so famous in the last 30-plus years weren’t brought on board to helm multiple songs as a huge celebration. Plot wise, I have no real complaints. It moves very fast and Asha is a very likable character whose own big wishes are set in motion once the adorable Star is introduced.
Happy 100th Anniversary to Disney Animated Films! They have had so many ups and downs in the past 100 years and I’m happy to say that Wish isn’t a down. Stay for the end credits for both a very beautiful post-credit moment and to watch some delightful memories. Remember wishing upon a star can lead to great things, 100 years and more.
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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