Wish Review: Disney’s 100th Anniversary Film Falls Short

This year marks the Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary, a monumental milestone for the iconic animation studio behind classics like Snow White, The Lion King, and Frozen. To celebrate this centennial occasion, Disney released an original animated feature titled Wish, which draws its premise from the song “When You Wish Upon a Star” first heard in Pinocchio.

On paper, Wish seems full of promise as both an anniversary celebration of Disney’s legacy and a new fairy tale addition to their revered animated catalog. But based on early reactions, the film apparently falls short on both fronts, failing to capture the signature magic that has defined Disney animation at its best. As observers have noted flaws with the story, characters, music, and even animation style itself, Wish sounds like an well-intentioned but mediocre take on the classic Disney formula.

In this review, we will analyze key areas of Wish to determine if this birthday present to Disney fans is actually worth unwrapping. Does Wish stand on its own merits as a new animated adventure? Or is it merely coasting on nostalgia for better films of the past? By exploring what works, what doesn’t, and why reactions have been so mixed, we hope to evaluate how satisfying a viewing experience Wish provides after so many years of anticipation. Will Disney’s 100th anniversary film wish come true for audiences? Let’s find out.

A Visual Letdown for Disney’s 100th

For a film intended to commemorate the 100th anniversary of one of animation’s most visually innovative studios, Wish falls surprisingly flat when it comes to its aesthetic elements. Despite attempting to blend 2D and 3D animation styles in a tribute to Disney’s hand-drawn past and computer-animated present, the results feel lackluster rather than bold or evocative.

The background paintings do feature a soft, watercolor-inspired style likely meant to echo beloved classics like Sleeping Beauty. But the textures never feel authentic or vivid, instead coming across as an imitation of real watercolors without the necessary organic depth. And the blend with 3D animation creates an odd clash rather than a seamless new fusion — the flatness of the 2D contrasts awkwardly with the dimension of the 3D.

Facial features on characters often float in an unnatural way inside their traditionally animated bodies, creating an unappealing hybrid effect reminiscent of cheap retro cartoons rather than a cutting-edge commemorative work. It appears the animators aimed for stylized imperfection to echo older techniques, but it feels more jarring than homage-like.

Making matters worse is the surprisingly dull color palette used throughout Wish. This is a mythical fairy tale kingdom brought to life, yet the predominant hues skew gray and muted. Such a depressing visual language seems antithetical for the wondrous worlds Disney is known for portraying with dazzling colors and artistic flair. Perhaps the washed-out pastels were intended to align with storybook illustrations, but the kingdom of Rosas ends up feeling sterile rather than magical as a result.

Even character motions rely more heavily on rote, recycled Disney tropes than attempts to genuinely push animation forward: from the plastic facial expressions to the predictable exaggerated movements, there is little sense of breakthrough artistry at work. Supporters argue the nostalgic poses and gestures pay tribute to the past, but critics counter that the 100th anniversary called for displaying how far animation has come rather than reusing antiquated techniques.

In the end, Wish lands visually somewhere between classic callback and cutting-edge — and fails to impress as either. For a film centered around manifesting ambitious dreams and transformative wishes, it’s a tremendous shame Disney did not set its animation sights higher to honor its own lofty legacy.

An Uninspired Fairy Tale Formula

As an original animated fairy tale celebrating Disney’s 100 years of cinematic fantasy storytelling, Wish had every opportunity to showcase the studio’s unparalleled imaginative worldbuilding and gift for spinning compelling coming-of-age hero journeys. Unfortunately, critics suggest the film’s narrative elements end up feeling derivative and half-baked instead of delivering a magical new addition to the canon.

Central to the issues is a weak premise that strains believability from the start. The kingdom of Rosas revolves around citizens giving up their innermost wishes at age 18 to be stored and occasionally granted by the sorcerer king Magnifico. This raises endless unanswered questions. Why would anyone happily relinquish their most precious dreams? Why do they only possess a single wish? If the wish defines someone’s identity, why don’t they simply make the same one again later? We’re given a convoluted fairy tale setup without the logical internal rules that strong fantasy depends on.

This extends to Rosas itself failing to ever truly feel like a real, living, breathing kingdom where viewers become invested inhabitants. The vaguely Mediterranean island has underdeveloped elements from numerous Old World cultures referenced but none are granted enough depth to seem real. Supporters suggest this mirrors how immigrants blend together in magical harmony there; critics argue it makes Rosas superficial Disneyland-like shorthand relying excessively on tropes rather than substantiated worldbuilding.

The villainous despot Magnifico seems similarly hamstrung between menacing and silly as his motivations are murky. If he can already grant wishes effortlessly, why does he care enough about clinging to power to upend his entire kingdom when the protagonist Asha causes trouble? His half-formed character offers laughs but diminishes stakes. Even Asha’s coming-of-age journey follows an all too familiar Disney princess path without enough unique twists tailored to the unconventional wish-based premise.

Side characters like Asha’s Seven Dwarf-like teen friends suffer from vague, undeveloped backstories as well. We catch glimpses of wishes in glass orbs at one point, but they remain undefined wisps hardly integral to the adventure. For a film named after profound human longing and advertised as a deep dive into Disney’s iconic song catalog, the absence of impactful musical wish revelation moments feels like a massive missed opportunity.

Ultimately, while Wish checks boxes delivering talking animals, an ethereal fairy godmother-type, soaring show tunes, and other Disney hallmarks, its narrative delivers largely surface-level references without crafting an absorbing new tale. Relying too heavily on tropes without adequate foundation laying or imaginative worldbuilding smacks of lackluster writing resources, leaving Wish a sparkles-without-substance anniversary extravaganza trading meaning for manufactured nostalgia.

Songs That Fail To Make Your Heart Sing

The beloved musical numbers written for Disney films over the past century have won Oscars, dominated radio airplay, and permeated global culture. From Snow White’s sweetly sincere “Some Day My Prince Will Come” to The Lion King’s proudly soaring “Circle of Life” to Frozen’s infectiously catchy “Let It Go,” Disney is synonymous with larger-than-life showtunes that captivate audiences.

So when a new original Disney animated feature like Wish makes music integral to its premise, centering on wishes manifesting through heartfelt song, expectations for the soundtrack soar. Unfortunately, reviews suggest the middling melodies cooked up for Wish fail to conjure anywhere near the charm and spark that define the Disney musical canon.

There are attempts at skillfully crafted Broadway-style numbers throughout, with one upbeat percussion-backed ensemble piece late in the film emerging as a toe-tapping standout. But otherwise, the songs skew functional rather than magical. By the numbers and rather uninspired, they seem engineered to fill designated slots in the story rather than organically surging forth when emotions run high.

The lyrics also fail to dazzle or delight the way legendary Disney songwriting duos like the Sherman Brothers, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, or Kristin Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez have over Disney’s rich musical history. Critics suggest the Wish tunes feel processed by committee to inoffensive but bloodless effect rather than gifting audiences newly iconic underdog anthems for the ages.

When your film premise expressly spotlights the importance of musical wishes as storytelling devices, it’s imperative to deliver songs that make viewer hearts sing at full Volume with goosebump-inducing gusto. But Wish never hits those soaring high notes. For all its references to classics like Pinocchio that moved audiences to tears with vivid melodies, this anniversary extravaganza offers forgettable tunes unlikely to echo in viewers’ memories rather than riveting new mainstays. The movie may be called Wish, but when it comes to resonating songs, there’s nothing here you’ll end up wishing for more of.

Wasted Wishes for More Wish Fulfillment

In animation, finding vocal talent capable of breathing dynamic life into two-dimensional characters is paramount. Disney films have enjoyed tremendous voice acting over the years, from Sterling Holloway’s warm and whimsical Winnie the Pooh to James Earl Jones’ unforgettably intimidating Mufasa. So hopes were reasonably high that Wish’s cast could further build on that legacy.

Leading the way is the multi-talented Ariana DeBose as optimistic heroine Asha, a plucky teenager who daringly challenges the land’s authoritarian ruler. DeBose’s theatrical pedigree includes acclaimed turns in West Side Story and Schmigadoon!, so she seems well-equipped to handle Golden Age-style musical numbers and wring depth from thin archetypes. But Wish gives her little room to shine beyond hitting familiar Disney Princess beats.

The same issues plague Chris Pine’s flamboyant portrayal of the preening sorcerer King Magnifico, who descends into incompetent buffoonery too quickly to portray a truly chilling villain. And Alan Tudyk receives limited screen time for dry observational humor as Asha’s sassy goat sidekick Valentino. Their reliable comedic skills go tragically untapped.

Supporting players like Asha’s Seven Dwarf stand-ins remain even more dimensionless, despite flashes of promise. So while the vocal performances themselves hit adequate marks, Wish squanders their talents by surrounding them with subpar writing. We end up with exaggerated caricatures rather than fully fleshed protagonists worth rooting for.

Nary a scene passes without seeming echoes of superior Disney characters of old, which only spotlights the deficiencies. One closes their eyes and imagines what heights Wish’s thin personalities might reach with richer development and dialogue enhancing the foundation these fine actors provide. But those wishes go cruelly unfulfilled, leaving too many of the voices behind Disney’s 100th anniversary film crying out for far better utilization. The vocal ingredients and potential lie ready for the taking, but the casting is wasted on such uninspired recipe execution.

Playing It Safe Instead of Pursuing Bold Dreams

The most impactful Disney animated films often explore complex themes beneath their child-friendly exteriors, from The Lion King’s lessons about destiny and loss to Frozen’s portrait of isolation and sisterly bonds transcending social pressures. This dramatic backbone strengthens audience investment in the characters while ensuring enduring resonance.

As a commemorative 100th anniversary release, Wish had a prime opportunity to craft an inspiring original narrative around the studio’s legacy of following your heart against all odds to achieve self-actualization and community betterment. Early buzz suggested it would ambitiously tackle topics like environmental interconnectedness, economic inequality, the obligations of leadership, and more within a sociopolitical fairy tale framework.

The film mostly offers only surface-level lip service to those lofty ideas instead of meaningful examination. We briefly hear the trite message that the planet’s inhabitants must respect ecological links binding them, but it passes quickly without narrative weight. Hints about questioning authority and oppression appear in throwaway dialogue rather than driving the drama.

Various cultural textures decorate the storybook kingdom of Rosas, but rarely affect plot outcomes enough to seem organic. Asha and other marginalized characters face few substantive barriers tied specifically to ethnicity, class, gender or other attributes that could have granted resonance.

Overall Wish comes across as conflicted about confronting real-world issues, aiming to be inoffensive and universally appealing above else. Which likely proved the more bankable, risk-averse strategy from a corporate perspective for such an image-conscious centennial tentpole. Yet that also prevented its timely themes from blossoming beyond superficial dressed-up homilies. For a film about wishes coming true that asks audiences to dig deep and find self-fulfillment, Wish practices considerably less daring in favor of gracious but generally hollow grand gestures.

A Lackluster Birthday Wish for Disney’s 100th

In the end, Wish will likely go down as a missed opportunity – an animated feature more memorable for what it could have been rather than what it is. This was a prime chance for Disney to deliver an original animated fairy tale worthy of their extraordinary creative lineage. And while the film aims admirably high in some respects, it falls disappointingly short of the studio’s usually lofty standards.

The well-meaning team involved has shown with past efforts they can produce magic when granted enough artistic freedom. But Wish unfortunately feels hamstrung by too much heavy-handed corporate pressure, perhaps due to the significance of being the official 100th anniversary commemoration project. That seeming over-management appears to have squeezed out much spark or risk-taking, leaving the movie safe but bland.

Younger viewers focused solely on the vibrant colors, singing animals and confident heroine may find basic enjoyment in Wish. But those hoping for mesmerizing musical sequences, richer worldbuilding, dimensional protagonists, or meaningful themes will leave theaters unfulfilled. And fans eagerly anticipating a worthy new addition to the Disney animated vault may unfortunately walk away adding Wish to the forgettable bottom tier of their rankings.

It’s a shame such an auspicious celebration showcasing Walt Disney Animation Studio’s talents ends up being so emblematic of their struggles sustaining consistent inspiration without the guiding light of founder Walt Disney himself. But Wish will likely best serve as a cautionary tale about corporate constraints hampering creativity rather than a magical reaffirmation of the Disney magic formula itself. Perhaps the next 100 years will witness bolder wishes being imagined and granted again someday instead.

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