Wish is Disney’s confusing ode to itself
Remember Peter Pan? Remember Snow White? Do you remember them, they’re on Disney+ right now! These half-hearted, frantic, nostalgic questions, and brand reminders, seem to be at the heart of Disney’s new animated film, Wish, which bears the weight of Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration. Borrowing the beautiful simplicity of Disney’s most iconic song, “When You Wish Upon A Star,” Wish twists the song’s message into a convoluted plot with forgettable characters. The film is a new fairytale that catchy tunes and pretty animation can’t rescue.
Ten minutes into Wish, after a verbose preamble and a lay-of-the-land-and-plot-summary song, “Welcome to Rosas,” untangling what was going on was still difficult. Chris Pine (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) lends his voice to the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico, who was once bestowed the power of a sorcerer and now oversees a seemingly utopian kingdom of diversity and infinite ease. In Rosas, each new resident gives Magnifico their wish, the source of all their worry (I suppose), which he then stores and decides when and if to return. But please note that residents don’t give up their wish until they’re eighteen, and once they do, they’ll completely forget what it was. Why? I dunno! Meanwhile, Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) voices Asha, a Rosas resident who wants to be Magnifico’s apprentice (ala Disney’s classic The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) in order to help do good for her community and to convince the King to give her 100-year-old grandfather his wish, which he gave up a long time ago. Asha discovers a sinister truth behind Magnifico’s rule. She wishes upon a star for guidance…sort of…and a cute yellow emoji-esque star flies down and begins giving animals the ability to speak (but can’t grant wishes, for some reason) and helps Asha and her friends get the inhabitants of Rosas their wishes back from Magnifico. I’m exhausted even thinking about this plot!
Throughout Wish, there are callouts to Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and more classic Disney films. Even the credits have star constellations of classic Disney characters, which have absolutely nothing to do with the plot of Wish. Why Disney didn’t just come out directly and say that Wish takes place in a universe where all Disney IP exists, I can’t presume to understand. That would’ve made for a more interesting concept. Instead, Wish can’t seem to decide if it wants to commit to subtle Easter eggs or overt references. This indecision makes Wish feel forced, rushed, and confusing simultaneously. So what’s the point of Wish?
Money. Kids will love Wish. There’s no arguing that Disney can entertain families and young ones — Wish features cute anthropomorphic animals, catchy tunes, and fast-coming gags. Disney knows that Wish merchandise and its reminder of other titles will drive more to the Disney+ platform. The best thing the film has going for adults (and/or parents) is that it clocks in at a brisk ninety-five minutes. If you don’t have kids of your own, perhaps just listen to the thirty-six-minute soundtrack instead of seeing the film. Each song is overflowing with plot-laden lyrics, but Pine and DeBose belt their numbers (and a duet) with snarling gusto and soaring sincerity, respectively. I’ve listened to the foot-stomping number “Knowing What I Know Now,” a rebellious chanting song akin to a Disney version of an Imagine Dragons hit, over ten times already — I’m only human.
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Wish opens today in Bay Area theaters.
