‘Wish’ review: Dirs. Fawn Veerasunthorn, Chris Buck (2023)

thehollywoodnews.com:

Disney’s latest feature animation brings in the big guns in Frozen director Chris Buck and Disney and animation veteran Fawn Veerasunthorn for their 100th-year original, a fantasy adventure with all the right moves which reaches for the stars but doesn’t quite hit the dizzying heights of its predecessors.For their 100th year, Disney had to do something a bit special, particularly following the last film Strange World which far from performed with critics and fans alike.

With Wish, the 62nd film in their history, it paints by numbers to create a feature animation featuring all of the hallmarks of the previous 61, but something doesn’t quite knit together.The story is set in the fantastical kingdom of Rosas, a mysterious desert island somewhere in the Mediterranean, heralded by King Magnifico (the voice of Chris Pine) and his wife Queen Amaya (Angelique Cabral).

17-year-old Asha (Ariana DeBose) lives with her mother, and grandfather Sabino (Victor Garber)who is approaching his 100th birthday, and she’s about to go for a big interview over at the palace to become the dashing King’s new apprentice.

You see, Magnifico is a sorcerer, and up in his magic castle, he’s harbouring the kingdom’s inhabitants’ wishes and, at various points during the year, he grants one of the residents wishes to come true, each one forgetting what their dream originally was once they’ve handed them over.