“Wish” stars Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber, Natasha Rothwell, Jennifer Kumiyama, Evan Peters, Harvey Guillén, Ramy Youssef, Niko Vargas, Della Saba, and Jon Rudnitsky. Released on November 22, 2023, the film has a young woman attempting to protect a kingdom and the star she discovered. The film was directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn (in her feature directorial debut). Buck is known for directing "Tarzan," "Surf's Up," "Frozen," and "Frozen II." It is the 62nd feature film from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Throughout its centennial, Disney has crafted a boatload of stories that are breathtaking, inspiring, influential, and endearing. While some of them aren't as well-received as others, most of them remain a place in our hearts and the animation hall of fame, like "Snow White," "Pinocchio," and even "The Princess and the Frog." What these movies and many others have in common is that they follow the studio's traditional theme of wishing upon a star, which became the go-to motto for the company regarding the products and its audience. For its 100th anniversary, Disney found the perfect opportunity to answer a couple of century-old questions that left us wondering. Where does a wishing star come from, and how is it significant in making our dreams a reality? Those answers were found in the studio's latest animated feature that puts a new meaning to "when you wish upon a star". Not only that, but it also seeks to capitalize on the studio's legacy through its style, narrative, and a bunch of Easter Eggs. Were they enough to deliver a return to form for the House of Mouse? Let's find out. The story follows Asha (DeBose), a 17-year-old enthusiastic girl living in the Kingdom of Rosas. The kingdom is ruled by King Magnifico (Pine), a self-centered ruler who is also the sole keeper of people's wishes. However, what the villagers don't know is that Magnifico keeps most of their wishes inside his wish bubbles and uses only those that benefit the kingdom and even himself. When Asha uncovers his nefarious secret, she passionately pleads to the stars to help her save her home. In response, a unique star named Star appears from the sky and is revealed to have magical powers. With the help of her pet goat, Valentino (Tudyk), and her friends, Asha attempts to save her people's wishes and protect Star from Magnifico, who seeks to use the magic star to gain control over his kingdom. I know I said this a lot, but Disney has been a part of my life since I was born in the 90s. If it weren't for the studio's Renaissance movies and many others before them, I wouldn't have learned to communicate with people, including my family. More importantly, I wouldn't have developed a strong passion for film, especially animated ones. Sure, the people running the studio have been making many dumb decisions, especially with Disney+ and their recent attempts at "impressing" everybody. Still, I'll never forget what their animated treasures have done to help me become…well, me. So, if you're still wondering why I'm still watching anything Disney-related, that's why. Of course, "Wish" is no different, especially since it has the studio going back to the basics with its storytelling and animation style that made its old-school fairy tale movies fantastic. Unfortunately, that strategy doesn't seem to be working well in its favor regarding the mixed reviews, sour audience reviews on social media, and box office performance. It's enough to keep my expectations in check, but the only question that matters is whether the film is fun and magical enough to be watchable. As mentioned earlier, "Wish" has Disney returning to its traditional storytelling roots with its simplicity and fairy-tale-like vibes, similar to ones like "Snow White" and "Cinderella", but still retains its modern elements of today. It also incorporated plenty of references resembling the studio's legacy. This approach of combining Easter eggs and story isn't anything new for the mega-billion company, as it has done that in "Enchanted", "Wreck-It Ralph" and its sequel, and even its recently-released short film, "Once Upon a Studio". By the way, "Once Upon a Studio" is worth a watch if you haven't, especially if you're a Disney fan. If there's one thing I know from watching plenty of animated movies for families, it's that simplistic storytelling is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it's safe and harmless for children and maybe their parents to enjoy without worrying about the outside world. On the other hand, it risks losing numerous opportunities to explore its themes and characters further in its surprises and depth. Nowadays, it's one of the battles in the movie business that seems impossible to win because, as usual, we can't impress everybody. Unsurprisingly, "Wish" is another part of that struggle, with its plot having its share of strengths and weaknesses. For the former, the movie offers a back-to-basic formula from Disney's "golden days" that's as simple as wishing upon a star, along with the usual elements that made us fall in love with the brand. More importantly, it reflects that wishes are a part of ourselves, which helped Disney provide some of the most beloved characters ever. They're the driving force that makes us human, and they help us strive to make them come true without anyone daring to crush them. Part of Disney's legacy isn't just through its movies. It's also inspiring people to keep their dreams alive in their hearts. Without them, we'd become as cranky as Grumpy from "Snow White" or the Disney haters on social media. Was the film groundbreaking enough to emphasize its thematic intention? Storytelling-wise, no. However, it's tolerable, humorous, and cute enough in its message and entertaining plot to forgive the studio's decision to temporarily retire its modern tropes, including the villain twists. As for its weaknesses, "Wish" doesn't offer much else in its formulaic and straightforward narrative and characters to reach the magical heights of Disney's other classics. There's nothing wrong with simple storytelling in movies made for kids and their parents as long as it has something casual adult moviegoers can also enjoy. While it may have a few elements I found amusing, such as Star, the film's spark periodically faltered with its desire to make itself safe for kids and provide nostalgic vibes with its Easter eggs. Thankfully, they're not as abundant as what Warner Brothers did with "Space Jam 2". Part of that is due to its pacing. It goes by smoothly to fit its brief 95-minute runtime, especially for younger audiences. Sadly, it also caused the movie to leave out some vital character developments that could've benefited enormously from its themes and character relationships, with the primary example being Simon (Evan Peters), one of Asha's friends who wishes to become a knight. There's also the dynamic between Asha and Magnifico, who share different beliefs in wish granting, causing the latter's obsession with control and power to increase gradually as the film progresses. I thought that could use some tweaks as well. Another reason for the movie's misfortune is the side characters. Disney is always known for delivering sidekicks that are as memorable and endearing as its protagonists. So, I find it disappointing that the side characters in "Wish" are just…okay. They're not great, and they're not terrible, either. They're just fine. Asha's friends, who resemble the seven dwarfs, are likable yet bare-bones, and Star is another adorable character that'll likely be the talk of the merchandising town. The only side character I thought was the weakest part of the movie was Valentino, Asha's pet goat who gained the ability to talk like Clayface from "Harley Quinn". I have no disrespect toward Alan Tudyk, especially since he's got a good vocal range, but Valentino felt emptier than the rest of the characters, mainly for his bland humor and forgettable personality. Regarding the narrative, "Wish" is admirable for paying tribute to the straightforward, old-school Disney trend through its magic and charm. Unfortunately, that can only take it so far regarding its lack of thematic depth and harmless plot, especially with today's critical standards. Along with its story, "Wish" also compensated for its understandable flaws by making its wish of a talented voice cast come true. Ariana DeBose, who recently won an Oscar for her performance in 2021's "West Side Story", takes center stage as the voice of Asha, and she unsurprisingly nails it. Despite Asha's quirky personality feeling equivalent to Anna from "Frozen", DeBose's voice delivers a satisfying vibe to her determined, energetic, and kind-hearted spirit. Plus, her singing was spot on, especially during the "This Wish" sequence. Chris Pine also did a good job voicing Magnifico, a straight-up villain thirsty for dark magic. While I'm not entirely convinced Magnifico would join the other classic Disney villains like Scar, Jafar, and Dr. Facilier, I was nonetheless entertained by Pine hammering it up as the devious and malicious king. I already mentioned Alan Tudyk as Valentino, but I'm going to repeat it anyway because why not? Tudyk is fine in the role, but his character is pretty mundane. Then, we have the animation, which has been getting a lot of mixed reactions from everyone who saw it. With the combination of CGI and hand-drawn animation, the presentation in "Wish" resembles a classic storybook brought to life, similar to what "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" accomplished in its art style. However, it's also supposed to resemble Disney's watercolor animation from the studio's earlier works regarding its settings. It would've helped if it was 100% traditional animation to further emphasize the product as a 100-year tribute as initially planned, but what can you do? While it's far from revolutionary like the "Puss in Boots" sequel, the animation in "Wish" is admirable in the animators's efforts to blend the studio's past and present on the movie's canvas. There were a few moments when the animation's lighting looked a tad unfinished, but they hardly detract from the vibrancy and magic the remaining movie delivered. Finally, we have another crucial piece of the Disney formula puzzle: the songs. The tunes in "Wish" were produced by singer/songwriter Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, with the score composed by Disney Animation veteran Dave Metzger. Like the supporting characters, the music is acceptable in capturing the beauty, emotion, and color of the film's presentation. However, I don't see its songs becoming instant classics as time progresses. "This Wish" and "Knowing What I Know Now" were my favorites of the bunch, while "This Is the Thanks I Get" by Chris Pine was surprisingly out-of-place regarding its tone and Magnifico's vile personality. They're not memorable, but I enjoyed listening to them regardless. Overall, "Wish" is admirable in providing kid-friendly entertainment values and paying respectable tribute to Disney's legacy, even though it struggled to grant our wishes for a much stronger narrative. It checks off almost all of the boxes from the studio's traditional formula of years past, for better or worse, and its message appropriately resembles Disney's iconic history. The problem is that its story needs more fresh ideas to further capitalize on the studio's victory lap on an emotional and creative level. It'll satisfy most people who want a more traditional and straightforward film from Disney, especially when it benefits from its voice cast, diverting yet basic plot, and decent animation. However, people who prefer the studio's modern works involving bold storytelling, mature themes, and surprising twists won't get their wish granted from "Wish". Its simplistic storytelling, weak side characters, and passable songs might not be enough to win over all of the studio's detractors, but based on my experience with it, it doesn't deserve the drama it's getting. When it comes to Disney celebrating its 100th anniversary, I would say that "Once Upon a Studio" did a much better job handling this approach, making it the perfect way to cap off its flawed celebration. "Wish" is basically the dessert that comes with the recent short film. It's not as special as the main course that is "Once Upon a Studio", but it's delectable enough to satisfy my taste buds. Don't get me wrong, "Wish" is an enjoyable watch for what it is, but it could've been even better if it weren't for the studio's meddling. Despite its recent poor choices, I still appreciate the great things Disney has done throughout its 100-year history, mainly granting my wish to communicate through their classic movies, and I hope it fixes itself to regain that type of magic sooner rather than later. The brand has done it before, so here's hoping it can do that again. Until then, happy anniversary, Disney. B-
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