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I 'Wish' Disney Would Get Its Magic Back

By Sara Clements | Film | November 24, 2023 |

By Sara Clements | Film | November 24, 2023 |


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“A dream is a wish your heart makes,” Cinderella sings. Peter Pan wishes to never grow up; Pinocchio wishes to be a real boy; Ariel wishes to walk above water. For the past 100 years, Disney has invited its audiences to dream alongside the characters in its films. Wishing on stars and making dreams come true have been synonymous with Disney, and embodying that signature theme is Wish. Directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn and written by Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore, the film is a love letter to classic Disney and an ode to the wishing star that has played a prominent role in its history. Since Cliff Edwards as Jiminy Cricket sang, “When You Wish Upon a Star,” the song has become a part of the studio’s identity, playing over its logo since the 1980s. It’s only fitting that, for its centennial, we are presented with the origins of the very star that characters like Geppetto and Tiana once turned to with their heart’s desires.

Wish opens like a tale as old as time. With the flipping of a storybook, the film’s lore and backstory are established in a classic and welcomed way. This latest fairytale recalls that of a powerful sorcerer who created a kingdom of protection in exchange for the wishes of his people. The Kingdom of Rosas is like any classic Disney setting: medieval in design with a castle looming overhead. Once a month, the sorcerer and self-crowned king, Magnifico (Chris Pine), grants a wish to one lucky resident. The people of Rosas live waiting for their wishes to come true and for some, like 100-year-old Sabino (Victor Garber), their time is running out. However, Sabino’s granddaughter, Asha (Ariana DeBose), hopes acing her interview to become the King’s apprentice will mean her family’s wishes will finally be granted.

King Magnifico has created his kingdom seemingly to protect his people from the dangers of the outside world. His desire to create a haven without pain speaks to Asha’s caring nature, making her feel like the perfect candidate to be his apprentice. Magnifico keeping everyone’s wishes safe sparks hope in Rosas, a future of beautiful possibly. However, Asha learns that he has no intention of granting everyone’s wishes, only those that would benefit him most. As a result, she does something no one thought possible: She wishes upon a star. “So I make this wish / To have something more for us than this,” DeBose sings with powerful emotion. The star, however, doesn’t just continue to shine above. It comes down, shaking the kingdom’s foundation in the process. Taking shape as its own character, Star aides Asha on her quest to return the wishes to the people of Rosas, so they too can feel the magic of a wish granted.

The biggest question one could pose when speaking of Wish is: Does it live up to the expectations of what one would think a film paying homage to Disney should be like? It’s a yes and no answer. It’s definitely the most Disney movie ever. Meaning that it has everything you would expect: talking animals, a good guy turned villain, the theme of loss, a great main tune, and a storybook ending. It’s also littered with easter eggs that harken back to various characters and films in Disney’s catalog, but they’re added in organically so the film doesn’t become just constant call-outs.

It has a perfect voice cast, with DeBose contributing a very classic feel but also signaling the modern evolution of the Disney heroine. Asha has adorable sidekicks in Star and her goat, Valentino, who bring most of the film’s humor in the former’s fun pantomime and the latter’s terrific voice performance by Alan Tudyk. Pine is delightfully nefarious as Magnifico, whose style and vanity mirror the Disney villains of old. The animation style is especially memorable as it paints this story in a combination of traditional watercolor and computer animation, illustrating the evolution of Disney’s animation with every frame.

What classic Disney movies need to have, above all, are good songs. Wish is a pretty mixed bag on that front. The film’s main tune, “This Wish,” is excellent. It fits the film’s message perfectly and elicits very uplighting emotion thanks to DeBose’s stunning voice. And while Pine is entertaining in his role as Magnifico, his solo, “This Is The Thanks I Get?!” is terrible. The rest of the songs aren’t very memorable. Luckily, the musical numbers are energetic, with some using influences from other songs like “Colors of the Wind.” In his score, Dave Metzger incorporates notes from “When You Wish Upon a Star,” sparking at least a little bit of that old Disney magic.

Wish reminds its audience what makes classic Disney so special - and that it can’t be replicated. And this is where the film’s pixie dust loses its shimmer. By being a love letter to the studio’s past, the film uses a tried and true formula that at this point is trite. The “why” is obvious of course, but by hanging on to so many influences, Wish struggles to find its own identity. Disney has yet to find the spark that will pull it out of the cycle of trying and failing to replicate what it once had. When Wish ends and the credits roll, you can’t help but reflect on “Once Upon a Dream” when the Disney magic was still there.