Directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, Wish follows a young girl named Asha (Ariana DeBose) through the magical kingdom of Rosas. This quick-witted wishful thinker loves her kingdom and wants the best for everyone, especially her grandfather who she calls “Saba” (Victor Garber). She couldn’t think of anyone more deserving to have their wish granted, and on his 100th birthday no less.
Everyone in the kingdom entrusted the King with a single wish in hopes that one day he would grant them. Once a year he holds a “Wish Granting Ceremony” that everyone attends with hopes that their wish is the one that gets granted. If Asha succeeds in becoming the apprentice to King Magnifico (Chris Pine), she’ll fast-track her way to seeing her wish fulfilled. But after learning of the King’s intent behind keeping the most sacred wishes of the people, her inquisition lands her in a difficult situation.
There’s an issue that sadly must be addressed before going further. The copious amount of unjust hate this film has received, before even being released to the masses, is outright despicable. It’s very possible to separate personal feelings about the company, the state of Florida, or the on-going spat between Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, from an animated movie. None of these things have to do with the film. Only take note of reviews, personal or professional, that stick to elements of the film.
We are talking about an animated feature targeting children right? In that manner, Wish should be a hit. I’m guessing their soundtrack is going to be a contender in the spring when we arrive in the thick of awards season. “This Wish” “Knowing What I Know Now” and “I’m A Star” are the types of original tracks that kids will be singing long into 2024.
The film is a breath of fresh air from Disney. Paying homage to the style that won over generations, Wish is set in a watercolor storybook style like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs except in 3D. The only difference is the classics had inked lines and here, the studio made adjustments to take on elements of that look. “While we weren’t trying to do 2D animation, we did want to stylize the performances in a way that pulls from 2D animation,” said head of animation Wayne Unten.
If you were in an automobile, you’d be driving down nostalgia highway for 95 minutes. It has all the elements of a Disney classic. It boasts an incredibly fun soundtrack, characters that are easy to remember, and a hilarious sidekick (Valentino) to keep the humor flowing. With a diverse cast of characters set in a land far away, Wish is the holiday hit for families this Thanksgiving.
Wish gets a 9 out of 10. Sometimes when you see a film, you just know. After watching The Lion King as a child, I left the theater in a great mood, singing songs from the movie and reflecting on my favorite scenes. I didn’t need anyone to tell me, I knew it was going to be a hit (and it was). The same can be said for Wish. Children left our early screening happy, dancing, and discussing what they could remember. If Disney has any foresight whatsoever, they’ll gear up the goat and star plushie inventory asap.
Wish is now in theaters.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Disney
[…] Outside of the science and engineering behind the mission, there was a very noticeable push for the Big Bang theory. Being force-fed this for 40 minutes seemed a bit unnecessary and extraneous but it doesn’t ruin the experience. Hearing Dr. Amber Straughn, an astrophysicist at NASA, utter a biblical passage, “I once was blind but now I see,” was a welcomed break from the consistent push of, “We’re all made of stars” as if auditioning for Disney’s WISH. […]