What’s that sound? It must be the sound of Disney’s WISH movie sucking eggs. Note this movie is titled Disney WISH, not Walt Disney’s WISH. It means the same thing, but Putting the name in front of the other movies meant they were adaptations of someone else’s tale.
I’ve heard some bad reviews about this movie and waited for it to migrate from Disney+ to other platforms. I must say, other reviewers were right. It does not measure up to Encanto, Moana, or Frozen. Heck. I found SpongeBob SquarePants more entertaining than this. Did interns make this movie?
The movie is all about wishes. It sends the message that you should follow your wish, and don’t let anyone or anything steal it from you. This is exactly what the King in this movie does. He collects wishes with the promise of granting them one day at his discretion. I get the metaphor. The simple townspeople put their hopes and faith in an authority figure, leaving it up to someone else to make them happy. The king could be a professor, a maestro, a master chef, or a big boss. Anyone we might depend on to give us that promotion, that passing grade, that recommendation, or that big break. Yes, we can’t fulfill our wishes alone, but if the gatekeeper bars the door, find another door.
Here are the main characters: Valentino, The pet baby goat with the voice of a 60 year old. King Magnifico. Who names anyone that? Asha, the mixed race, dreadlocked teenage heroine. A ragtag assortment of bland friends who are far from memorable or dynamic.
The animation is stiff compared to Disney and Pixar’s former movies. The clothing is flat, like paper doll cutouts. The movie looks like it was done by newbies on a cheap computer program. The characters, especially King Magnifico are suited for the three to five year old crowd. So are the songs. Nothing was memorable. No ear worms here.
Asha’s seven friends are The Seven Dwarfs reincarnated. They’re all there. Sleepy, Dopey and Grumpy.
This is Disney’s 100 year anniversary of the founding of the company. Their theme song is, of course, When You Wish Upon a Star. That’s just what the heroine did. But the movie is not so much about her as it is about Walter Disney himself, who had a wish and it came true. I write this because heavy references to other Disney movies are throughput, and during the credits, many of the most popular Disney characters are shown to twinkle like stars and sparkly wishes.
Asha’s movements are stolen right out of Frozen and Encanto. It’s known that Disney recycles the movements of its characters. Why reinvent the wheel? Just trace it from another film.
Spoiler. The goat and animals, as well as the plants began to talk. By the end of the movie I was wishing the wishes would wear off so the goat would shut up. I’ve a feeling he’s going to wind up like Donkey from the Shrek movies.
Asha gives a hint at the beginning when she sings about Magnifico having lightening for hands and glowing eyes. Then she laughs and says, “Just kidding.” Well, she wasn’t.
This one is not coming to live in my library. If you have a five year old though, I’m sure they will enjoy it.
