Star Dust
Once an animation vanguard, Disney throws itself a 100th birthday party. Maybe no one will notice the Magic Kingdom ain’t so Magical anymore?
WISH
Directors: Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn • Writers: Jennifer Lee, Allison Moore
Starring [English]: Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alay Tudyk, Victor Garber, Angelique Cabral
USA • 1hr 35mins
Opens Hong Kong December 21 • I
Grade: B-
Did you know Disney was celebrating its 100th anniversary this year? In case you didn’t notice it was added to every logo, it is, which is probably why Bob Iger decided shitting on his talent would be fun. But I digress. In honour of this auspicious landmark, we have been gifted Frozen co-director Chris Buck and first-timer Fawn Veerasunthorn’s Wish, a rote Disney Princess™ tale that mines the House of Mouse’s history – there are references to Snow White, Bambi, The Princess and the Frog and a pile more – for a kind of greatest hits adventure with the usual messages of the strength of family, friendship and community, finding your own path, blah, blah, blah.
West Side Story break-out Ariana DeBose voices Asha, a 17-year-old resident of Rosas, a kingdom founded by Magnifico (“The Best Chris” Pine) and his queen, Amaya (Angelique Cabral), and powered by magic. Every citizen who turns 18 hands over their greatest wish to Magnifico, who stores them for safe-keeping until he grants them. When Asha applies for a magic apprenticeship with Magnifico, she asks the wrong questions about where the people of Rosas’ wishes are, why he doesn’t grant them all, and his true motivations, and winds up on the wrong side of his law. Out wandering in the woods and literally singing the classic musical “I wish” song, here called… checks notes… “This Wish” Asha wishes upon a star (get it?), which comes down and turns her kingdom upside down. Then everyone lives happily ever after.
In time for Christmas shopping…
Even by Disney’s recent weak standards – you cannot convince me Encanto was truly any good – Wish is pretty weak tea. No surprise, there is stellar artwork from start to finish, almost watercolour in style, with soft edges and a warm aesthetic that goes a fair way into drawing you into the world. But hard as it does to pay homage to its legacy and simultaneously reach for the future generations, there’s no compelling story or sense of danger that Disney kinda sorta used to trade in. The 81 years – 81 bloody years! – since Bambi was released has not diminished that film’s ability to traumatise. That’s saying something. Have you ever seen Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [sic] with a toddler watching for the first time? You will hear a plaintive “Don’t eat the apple!” Stakes. Disney used to have them. The worst things get in Wish is Magnifico finding out who wished upon that star and so poses a threat to his power, which might prompt him to burst the bubbles he keeps the wishes in, thus making people sad for a bit. It’s hardly mama deer getting shot through the heart (and we’re to blame), or burning to death in a forest inferno (The Jungle Book).
All that being said, Wish’s cast does a tremendous job of lifting the film well above its station (this will work fine with kids) starting with DeBose, who has the pipes to belt out the moderately memorable songs (by A Star is Born’s Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice), most of which wouldn’t be out of place in The Greatest Showman, like “Knowing What I Know Now”, all stomping rhythm sections and anthemic sing-along-ability. She’s supported gamely by Pine, who stole the show in Into the Woods with “Agony” and does a similar job with “This Is The Thanks I Get?!” Pine has turned into one of the better Hollywood’s A-list voice actors, and his vainglorious spin on Magnifico is a highlight. Elsewhere international treasure Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Rogue One, Big Hero 6) gets a pile of middling dad jokes to crack as Valentino, Asha’s pet goat whose wish to talk comes true, but he crushes every single one of them. Not sure what he’s doing with the regal butler schtick, but it’s great. And credit to writers Jennifer Lee (Frozen) and Allison Moore (Beacon 23) for inserting a low-key revolution theme into the otherwise unchallenging proceedings. In this day and age of not speaking truth to power – a Disney specialty – it’s particularly refreshing. But why no one thought to exploit musical theatre vet Victor Garber, as Asha’s 100-year-old dad Sabino, is anyone’s guess. But maybe that would have pushed Wish past its swift 95 minutes. Talk about dodging C territory. — DEK