'Wish' Review: A Flawed Yet Fantastic Fever Dream For Disney Fans
A few years ago, there was a popular conspiracy floating around the internet which alleged that all of Pixar’s animated films were connected. Without getting too much into the specifics, “The Pixar Theory,” as it became known as (which also has an official website now), mapped out a plausible correlation between all of the studio’s characters: talking toys, fish, cars, etc. Although it’s never been confirmed, it’s proven to be a fun concept fans can both look back at and continue to modify as new films from the studio come out.
Now, imagine if such a theory was applicable to another sect of Disney films? Well, thanks to Disney’s latest original animated project, Wish, you don’t have to. In the span of its 95-minute runtime, it pays homage to some of Disney’s iconic classics, while heavily implying that they’ve always been set in the same universe.
Set on an ambiguous European island called Rosas, the film follows a teenager by the name of Asha whose life is turned upside down after she makes a simple wish upon a star. Unbeknownst to her, that star is the same one responsible for dreams coming true in many of Disney’s other animated films!
For a company that has become partially responsible for over-saturating the movie market with Marvel’s superhero origin stories, Disney dares to try to craft one about itself here. Despite its purest intentions, like any reflection, it’s not without its flaws. That does not mean the film is bad. In fact, there’s an argument to be had that it’s one of the best projects Walt Disney Animation has created since it entered its 3D era. That’s due to the film’s characters, style, and message.
Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose plays Asha with an innocence that is sure to be compared to other animated teen protagonists such as Moana or Mirabel. However, what makes sets her character apart from other young female protagonists is her absolute selflessness. In the film, it’s established early on that everyone on her island is entitled to submit one wish to their king (who doubles as a sorcerer) when they turn 18-years-old. Whether or not that wish is granted is decided later on. Yet, with her 18th birthday months away, Asha makes it consistently clear throughout that there’s nothing she wants more than for her family’s wishes to come true. DeBose as Asha embodies a beautiful optimism that most modern Disney films lack, and that humanity often forgets is still possible.
Chris Pine, who plays said mystical king, Magnifico, also shines. After building a career on the backs of great, witty characters such as Captain Kirk and Steve Trevor, King Magnifico is a refreshing change of pace for several reasons. For one, it’s not immediately clear what he’s motivated by. As a result, like Asha, for much of the film you’re left to navigate this world and not know what he’s truly capable of. Additionally, his stellar singing voice might be the film’s best surprise. It’s not just enough that he can belt out such sweet notes. His character delivers the catchiest song on the entire soundtrack, “This Is The Thanks I Get?!” - this film’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” - effortlessly. In a film all about wonder, he’ll truly make you wonder why he hasn’t tried his hand at a solo album yet.
Disney animation alum Alan Tudyk does not disappoint either. He plays Disney’s prerequisite animal companion in the film, Asha’s pet goat Valentino. While it literally takes him a while to find his voice, when he does he becomes quite the comic relief. Unfortunately, he does not win the award for the cutest companion in the film. That goes to the star that comes to life after Asha wishes on it. Simply named Star, it steals every scene in its in without saying a single word.
Regarding the film’s style, directors and animators Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn knock the film out of the park. The animation admittedly does take some time to get used to. Although it feels like a remixed version of that 2D/3D blend that’s become popularized by films such as Across the Spider-Verse and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem; it’s still composed of that classic and rich blue Disney hue. Where the film’s animation particularly shines is in its attention to detail. Not to speak ill of any previous animated Disney projects, but because the lore of this project runs so deep here the details are especially important. And there are so many intricate impressive Easter eggs sprinkled throughout that it will make rewatching the film all the more fun for Disney fans.
Of all the film’s elements, its message is by far the strongest. As the name implies, it underscores the importance of having hopes, dreams, and desires. However, it also proves that there are still ways to achieve happiness and fulfillment in life, especially if what you want is outside of the realm of possibility. Despite having a relatively small role in the story, Asha’s mother is the perfect embodiment of this. There are several moments throughout the film where it’s revealed that she had a wish that was never granted. Although it’s never specifically revealed what that wish was, it ultimately doesn’t matter because her actions show us that, regardless of what it is/was, nothing matters more to her than Asha’s happiness. Whatever makes Asha happy makes her happy.
As mentioned earlier, the film is not perfect. One of its biggest shortcomings, despite the wonderful message, is its plot. Sure, the film is a fairy tale, but there are far too many flaws in the film’s logic. Not only is it often difficult to wrap your head around the idea of wishes being used as a form of currency on Rosas. The more you start to think about how many people have wasted their lives on the island for a near-impossible chance of having their wildest wish granted, the more you start to realize that everyone is basically a slave. If that’s not enough evidence that this idea may not have been flushed out fully, perhaps Magnifico’s constant mention of a threat beyond the walls of the island will. From the film’s prologue, we’re told that there used to be some sort of threat beyond the island, but it’s only ever vaguely referenced after that. It also proves to be a red herring because the island’s biggest threat is internal.
Does any of this detract from the fact that Disney fans will absolutely eat this film up? No. But even by Disney’s own standards, it’s often too generic and predictable. For a film billed as a celebration of Disney’s centennial and a love letter to its lore, it only feels a fraction as special as it should. That’s sure to leave even the biggest of cinephiles longing for something more.