Movie Review: Wish

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Its been a while I haven’t reviewing Disney animated movies, cause as far as I can tell you guys, Disney are pretty much in struggling. You see, back at the end of 2010s, Bob Iger was announced he’s going to passed the torch to the new man named Bob Chapek, but Iger is in under contract that he acted like a mentor to then upcoming Chapek, but not in a good start once 2020 begins with “you know what” with closures and financial crisis from the pandemic. Of course, the pandemic has toned down and once Iger was gone, Chapek pretty much screwing over for greediness, a lack of care to his employees his fans, his poor excuse of “Animated movies are for kids!” (God I hate whenever people said that, didn’t they watch adult oriented animated movies like Sausage Party or even Ralph Bakshi movies??), and worst of all, his poor take on “Don’t Say Gay” bill that made Disney turned into a target of Wokeism. But it wouldn’t be until Bob Chapek was sacked out by the board of directors and Bob Iger came out of retirement to fixing the issues, some say its a welcome return, but others said that the damage was already done with removable contents and some animated movies like Lightyear and Strange World are flopped at the box-office so badly, which im assuming they’re trying to get back but in a cheaply costs, but does it work or helpful when we’re getting into today’s review?

“Wish” is a 2023 musical fantasy that was written/directed by Chis Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, produced by Peter Del Vecho, Juan Pablo Reyes and Lancaster-Jones, and co-written by Jennifer Lee (who’s CCO of Disney Animated Studio as im writing this) and Allison Moore.

It was first developed back in 2018, but it was left in private until it was announced in the beginning of 2022, but like I said, Disney is pretty much in bad shape because of Chapek, even if we wanted to celebrating Disney’s 100th Anniversary, sure they did trying to recover with Pixar’s Elemental (which I’ve already covered before, which it tried, but didn’t get my interest) that it went from flopped to a sleeper hit at the box-office, they had a high hope to going back to make an original fantasy movie, but with a twist with the use of mix of watercolor animation and CG, sure when we saw the trailer, it had a mixed reaction, but we’ll get to that for my take later.

So, with all that said, will Wish is worth of wish fulfillment of celebrating Disney’s 100th Anniversary, or is Disney has a similar wish as The Monkey’s Paw?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

You think its gonna be another one of those generic fantasy movie of man vs monster or princess wishing for charming? Well, this one is unique and probably creative, if I wish its longer a bit or could’ve been promising from the writing.

The movie begins to open a book (huh, sounds familiar), where King Magnifico and Queen Amaya established the home island in Mediterranean Sea called “Rosas”, and at the same time, Magnifico is also learning sorcery about people’s wishes, giving their memory wishes sealed until he’ll make a ceremonial event to give one of them wish come true. Fast-forward to present after the origin where we introduce Asha, who’s overly excited to get a job interview as Magnifico’s apprentice, as well as high hope to granting her father’s wish for his 100th birthday (Wow, Asha must be so lucky of overly older father for like a century), while she has a high hope to give wish come true to her father, but Magnifico rejects her request, but pretty much pick whoever he wants and pretty much sensitive that he doesn’t want to be questioned, leaving her job interview being tossed out. She tried to explain to her parents about Magnifico, but felt resentment of denied, she ran off of being hopeless, until when she wishes upon a star, she ended up meeting a playful little Star with its magic comes to life and talking animals, its up to Asha, Star and her talking pet goat Dino to find the way stop Magnifico to finding out he’s a selfish “Wish-Master”.

I will say, I think its a nice and kinda creative idea when this movie all about, with the title suggest, wishing. We always like to gathering around in a new land in island called Rosas that we always love to wish in our dreams with our hope, but this one is all about dealing with wishes that people wanted it rather than being stuck of test of patience from Magnifico’s manipulation of keeping wishes sealed or else he isn’t a “Wish-Master” we can imagine for, of course the main journey wouldn’t be until we get to meet a Star in order to dealing from Magnifico’s dark secret from his sorcery, even with showing a world building of Rosas is also pretty nice. However, despite its creativity and message of this movie, but we just wish we want more complex, because the movie’s execution aren’t as perfect, it just came off as basic story from get-go. Even the pacing is also problem that we never be able to get more development, otherwise, all we have left is a typical new Disney Princess movie about a main girl find the way to defeat the evil threat with a big bang at the third act and roll the credits. I get its a one in a half hour long movie, but come on, I get this movie is made as a celebration, but we like to hear something promising with more plot developments with complex message rather left in simplicity without specialties, I get they made it as a blast from the past for a simplicity plot for their tale’s all this time, but in nowadays, we always like to build a thought provoking plots with an interesting execution (I mean just ask Oppenheimer how this movie is way too complex for its story and the writing that it made my head exploded). Of course, the movie has a humor moments, how are they? Well, its 50/50, sometimes they are some moments that gave me an easy chuckle, but other times that didn’t work for either poor attempt or even cheap amateur jokes.

Despite the simplicity pretty lacking its specialties, but il give a credit for its creative idea of how to save our fulfillment wishes than being kept on a shelf of waiting for so long, along with some fun moments.

The Animation

Based on what we saw the trailer, it has a split reaction, some people were curiously interested for the CG hand-drawn style presentation, but others hated it by calling it a “low-quality” or even a purpose of cutting budget, despite the film’s budget is between $175M to $200M. So, which side an I? Well, im kinda in a positive side.

As I said before, the presentation of this movie is done with a mix of watercolor animation and CG, the most obvious that when you look at the background far away, its obviously done by digital painting and I will say, it looks nice, sure it may not didn’t match compare to additional CG background or the characters, but then again, it looks fairly descent in return. One of which is the forest part that reminiscent to Disney’s Sleeping Beauty based on the textures of those leaves and such, even though it meant to have a medieval stain-glass come to life.

As for the character designs, they’re having a similar Glen Keane design like we’ve seen since Tangled, Frozen or heck even the Renaissance era. But im cool with it, the character designs are always staying the same as always in modern Disney movies, making them look classy and colorful, along with a nice, fun and energetic animation of their movements and fascinating choreography in the musical segments. Sure the quality is a bit low, but in their defense, its the reminiscent of old school quality of their legacy, sometimes the lighting quality looks like, but other times off.

But one animation part that I like is the effect, sure there may have an CG moments, but the real kicker is the use of 2D special effects, again, I know they maybe didn’t match in 3D environment, but still, its nice to see what they trying at the most parts from spells, magic and such, its vibrant and colorful, especially with playful effect with Star.

One thing that I also like to pointing out, are the Easter Eggs that we can see or hear the reference, though in not gonna give more details, but il save one them in a characters subject.

However, one of my biggest nitpick I have for this movie, while il give an appreciation for their animation with a twist with the idea of watercolor and CG animation, but it feels Disney are kinda got late to pulled that off, when you compare to other animated movies, like Dreamworks’ The Bad Guys or Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, they have a similar animation aspect of 2D present in a CG film, but have a slight low frame when they’re in actions, they may look fascinating for based on concept arts, but the REAL kicker is Sony’s Spider-Verse, not only they’re involved with new level of animation, but also going crazy with multiple of styles of 2D, 3D, anime, cartoony, punk-rock and many others. Im not saying Wish’s animation looks bad, it looks nice, but its just that it felt like they may need to get some change in early 2020s than 2023. I know they tried, but again, its meant to be based on their legacy of classic and modern presentation.

Of course, in typical Disney fashion, it also has the songs and they’re done by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Mice and they’re… Well, they’re alright to good. But then again, their songs are done with either old school to modern.

The first song “Welcome to Rosas” is basically be welcoming and gathering in the island of Rosa, I find it a nice start, along with a nice salsa themed music.

The second is “At all costs”, a duet song where Magnifico likes show all those wishes while Asha wanted to seeking her father’s wish, despite Magnifico is rather overly protective in, with the sing suggest, at all costs, I find it not bad too.

After that, we have “This Wish”, and I will say, its pretty good, since not only its surprisingly sounds beautiful, but also carrying the message of both the song and the movie, like I said, we always can’t help but dreaming for our wishes to be fulfilled. I know its nowhere match as Disney’s signature “When you wish upon a star”, but il give a credit on this movie’s main song. They also brought it back in reprise, but im not gonna tell you about the reprise from SPOILER.

Next is a “Im a Star”, which is like if you mix with Pocahontas’s Colors of the Wind in a pop song with animals singing to be equal together thanks to a Star. It sounds fun, but the lyric isn’t my enjoyment, I’d say its passable, but the lyric is a different story. For Colors of the Wind, its not.

Then, there’s “This is the thanks I get!?”, the obvious villainous song from Magnifico for reaching his boiling point when questioned about his sorcery, but man, even though some people didn’t like it, but I don’t think its not bad, its upbeat and showcases his true color of Magnifico’s secret and his personality.

Last but not least is “Knowing what I know now” is basically Asha and her friends setup against Magnifico, but I find it yet another passable song.

Those song are not bad, but then again, they’re nowhere to be the new masterpiece, some are good and enjoyable, but others can be weak.

While the songs are ok and they’re kinda like to do the animation with a twist and off place, but in fairness, il give an appreciation what they’re trying to do the mix of watercolor and animation.

The Characters

Despite the writing may not as perfect for simplicity, you think the characters could make something promising, well, kinda.

Lets start off with our main protagonist, Asha (voiced by Ariana DeBose), she’s a welcoming and lovable girl in Rosas that she likes to gathering and hanging out, especially she’s also wishful person thanks to her family, even if she could be nearly overactive and first person to questioning Magnifico’s gate-keeping the people’s wishes. I find her not bad, sure she could eccentric and kinda exaggerating for her slight energetic personality, but il give a credit that she’s a love and caring for the people in Rosas, especially for wishes, plus, I think Asha is having a blast of her role for her fun delivery.

Next we have her two companions, starting with Star, a fun and cute little living star when she called upon her wish, I find Star is such an adorable fella, its cute, playful and fun with her use of magic of wishes, even though its not much as special, but hey, at least Star is cute.

The other one is Valentino (voiced by Alan Tudyk), who’s basically Asha’s pet goat until got a wish come true that he’s able to talk to communicating both humans and animals. The best way to describing Valentino is he’s like the Disney’s version of Donkey from Shrek, they’re both pets, they both talks and they’re both humors. But the difference is that Eddie Murphy’s Donkey is memorable for his delivery, while Valentino on the other hand, despite we may understand he got a wish for able to talk, but he felt like its been done before that, sure, I do have some chuckle, but he’s not as humorous as either Donkey or any other sidekicks in various Disney movies. However, im not trying to bashing at Alan, he doing a nice work of his role, but its just the writing they give him is rather bellow for humor attempt to make us laugh, again, not trying to blame him, its the writing didn’t help him to make it funny.

Then we have King Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine, aka rebooted Captain Kirk, aka Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman, and aka Edgin Darvis in DND: Honor Among Thieves), a sorcery king of Rosas for keeping people’s wish for their fulfillment in ceremony, but not before he’s also insensitive, egotistic and careless for using wishes as his own gate-keeping and his own personal gain. Jeez, he’s basically a two-faced king in this movie, where one moment is happy and honorable to the people, but we can also see he’s sensitive in madness whenever Asha found out or even being questioned. Sure, he may not be the next iconic due to same issue as Asha, but he’s a one heckuva two-faced king for keeping wishes for his own power hungry and probably careless towards people in Rosas (Bob Chapek style), and of course, Chris Pine is also doing a fun work of his villainous role.

Of course, aside Asha’s companion, we also have Asha’s human friends, which surprisingly, they’re like the human or upgraded version of the seven dwarfs, which is surprisingly nice reference, even if they’re one-dimensional.

There’s Dahlia (voiced by Jennifer Kumiyama) is Asha’s royal best pal and baker with her group of friends that she’s kinda being a leader like Doc, Gabo (voiced by Harvey Guillen) is obsessed with gold, but not as happy nor dreamy like Grumpy (either or more like if he’s mix of Grumpy and Ratcliffe from Pocahantas), Hal (voiced by Niko Vargas) is a playful and joyful girl like Happy, Simon (voiced by Evan Peters) is a strong man with big heart, but also being a sleepyhead like Sleepy, Safi (voiced by Ramy Yousseff) who has a sneezing problem from allergies like Sneezy (thankfully no allergic reaction joke), Dario (voiced by Jon Rudnitsky) is a floppy eared and rose-faced fella like Dopey, and Bazeema (voiced by Della Saba) is a typically shy girl like Bashful.

As for the rest, its pretty minimal we have left to mentioning.

There’s Queen Amaya (voiced by Angelique Cabral) is Magnifico’s unlikely queen who’s trying to clear the point as his conscious, but pretty much being a pushover, Sabino and Sakina (voiced by Victor Garber and Natasha Rothwell) are Asha’s parents that they’re hoping for wishes, despite Asha’s trying to tell something what’s not right.

These characters are not as bad, but they have some fun moments, some good personalities and some fun performances with some fun delivery.

And now for my final opinion of this movie

Overall, Disney’s Wish is a good movie that I can say for their celebration of 100th year anniversary, is it worth it? Well, I maybe think so.

The animation, looks nice for their attempt of animation’s next level like Sony’s Spider-Verse, but in their legacy, the story is good and creative, the characters are good too, the voice casting are fun, and the songs are fairly descent.

While I may like this movie, but its pretty flawed with overly simple writing that has lack of specialties, some animation part could be 50/50, some characters are one dimensional and some jokes are either work or fail.

Like I said, the movie is kinda worth of the celebration of their century, its not really a new Disney’s masterpiece, I considered as a fairly good animated film they’ve ever done. Though I know there are plenty of people may calling it one of Disney’s weakest film, but personally, I don’t think its that, cause again, im calling it a not bad animated film what they think. It may not give me a big satisfaction for Disney’s celebration, but hey, I think they did the best what they can, but then again, not as perfect. If you’re a fan of Disney like me, I’d say check it out, which im sure some of you may like it, if not, maybe skip for their future projects.

For my rating, im gonna give this one a 7/10. Again, not one of Disney’s masterpiece, but at least they tried.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.