Wish (2023)

Score: 3.5 / 5

The latest animated musical feature from Disney is going to do little more than endear longtime fans and stoke the fires of people who love to hate the studio. Wish isn't really much of anything new, spends a lot of time referencing (directly and indirectly) the storied history of the studio, and basically functions as a microcosm of the 100th anniversary celebration Disney has been observing this year. Personally, I really enjoyed this movie and felt its determined nostalgia was sweet and pure and -- most importantly -- earned this year. While I might have wished (ha ha) for a more original concept or execution, some of Disney's more recent forays into purely imaginative works haven't been well received at the box office or popularly, so I don't envy the creators in trying to find that happy medium. On one hand, you have brilliant, progressive works like Strange World which precious few people talk about or even saw, and on the other, you have straightforward sequels or cinematic cousins (Inside Out 2 and Elemental, for example).

After a storybook introduction, we're cast into Rosas, a Mediterranean kingdom at some unclear point in history. The unexpectedly beautiful animation blends CGI techniques with what appears to be something akin to hand-drawn backgrounds that reminded me distinctly of Sleeping Beauty (almost certainly an intentional reference). King Magnifico (Chris Pine) rules Rosas through egotism, charm and charisma, and his sorcery, which he uses to control magic; specifically, he collects the wishes of his citizens and keeps them hidden at the top of his castle tower, occasionally bestowing a wish on a special citizen. We meet Asha (Ariana DeBose, whose sudden stardom is really just wonderful), a teenager who interviews to be the king's apprentice before realizing Magnifico is actually power-mad and a manipulative liar. Thus, the central theme of Wish might arguably be about leaders who promise and don't follow through, or who take more than they give back in pursuit of their goals. I confess myself a little surprised Magnifico doesn't more closely resemble Ron DeSantis, but his villainous color palette is pure green, indicating that money and greed/envy are the real evils here.

As a fantasy and a musical, the film takes the easy and fun path forward, rather than delving into somber territory about an ordinary girl who is forced to confront a corrupt king. Before long, Asha wishes on a star that promptly falls to earth and follows her around, helping her in her quest. The Star is mostly silent and has a stylized appearance that could have come out of a Nintendo game or Studio Ghibli film, and its somewhat chaotic magic immediately allows several woodland animals and vegetation to speak. Alan Tudyk's goat Valentino is particularly delightful. With all the talking animals and Asha's friends (of which there are seven who clearly share characteristics with the seven dwarfs who aid Snow White) on board with their somewhat vague mission, and they set out with Star to rescue the captive wishes from Magnifico.

A smattering of upbeat and fun musical numbers litter the film, some more engaging than others, though I particularly enjoyed the songs' focus on character and thematic development rather than pushing plot along. Similarly, there are endless references to other Disney material, which comes to fruition near the end of the film. By the climax and denouement, the film seems to be suggesting a few key things about its own nature that I find deeply satisfying in their ambiguity. The main point, during the climax, is that people's wishes are pure and true to themselves, offering purpose as well as hope, and that wishes should not be co-opted by others, especially leaders. Asha becomes magical herself when the Star sprinkles its dust on her and gifts her a magic wand that allows her to grant wishes and defeat evil. While it seems the film is meant to explain the nature of Disney's iconic wishing star (from its longtime logo over Cinderella's castle through its associations with the Blue Fairy and Tinker Bell and even the firefly Ray), I can't help but wonder if this movie could be an unofficial origin story for the Fairy Godmother. It's a fun thought, anyway. And that's mostly what Wish is: a fun time with good music and excellent animation that just makes you feel good. We're not in a renaissance for Disney yet, but we're getting close to due for another one, if the studio's past trend continues. In the meantime, I'm more than happy with this kind of material to celebrate its anniversary!