‘Wish’ has a rocky start

Category: Movies

The latest Disney animated film, Wish, had a lot to live up to. First, it is their holiday release, which usually is a high performer at the box office. Second, it tried to encapsulate the Disney legacy in one film. And third, it was meant to bring the history of the company to this little story that is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Disney company. That’s a lot. Audiences did not flock to theaters when it opened, perhaps because they are tired of the Disney “woke” agenda. The thing about the story is this – it takes a couple viewings to really be appreciated. 

The story centers around Asha (voiced by Ariana DeBose), a girl with high moral standards and a desire to do good. She lives in the island city of Rosas which is ruled by a seemingly nice king and an equally caring queen. The king takes everyone’s wishes and reviews them. His goal is to keep the peace, but the people of Rosas do not know that he has no intention of granting the wishes. 

Asha applies to be his assistant and discovers what has happened to all the wishes. They are stowed away never to be granted. She is heartbroken and dearly wants to help the people of Rosas realize their wishes. But how can one young girl do this? Asha looks up at the stars and makes her own wish. Well, that starts everything going in a different direction. 

A little star comes down from the sky and begins helping Asha. This little fellow is adorable and his magic spreads across the land. Animals discover they can talk, and in accordance with the Disney films of the past, Asha has an animal companion. Her pet goat Valentino is her best friend. And, then, lo and behold, thanks to Star, he can now talk. Valentino (voiced by Alan Tudyk) goes about helping Asha in her quest to free all the wishes held by King Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine) and return them to their owners. This will give everyone in Rosas the chance to realize their dreams and wishes. 

Getting to the wishes is one task, but then freeing them and, with Star’s help, returning them to their owners, is another task. All the while, Magnifico has a bounty on Asha’s head. But this young girl is not stopping for anything. She is determined to set things right.

Okay, so now you know the plot. The characters are not as endearing as in many of the other Disney films, yet Valentino and Star steal the show. There are several hints at past Disney films throughout the movie.

A really great aspect of this film is when the credits are rolling at the end. As the credits roll a number of past Disney characters appear, which is a fun element. Plus, when all the credits are over, there is one last scene that will touch the hearts of Disney fans.

Think of all the stars in Disney films. The second star to the right leads Peter Pan to Neverland. Lilo wishes on a falling star. And Jiminy Cricket sings about wishing on a star to Pinocchio.  There are so many stars throughout the Disney list of animated features, but this little Star in this film is different. He is an actual character, and a cute one as well.

While this is not the best Disney film, and certainly many critics and audiences decided it does not live up to the pre-release hype, it deserves a second viewing. If you keep your expectations in check, you might see a bit of the old Disney charm and magic in Wish.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.