Review by Susanne Nielsen
In its 100th year Disney is reaching back to some of its original successes – to the magic it created with all-time favorites like its first full-length animated feature film, Snow White, its first technicolor marvel in animation, voices synched and with enchanting backgrounds to its protagonist and her little friends in the woods. Over the years all have become Disney’s trademark for family friendly entertainment on screen.
Thus in its newest release, Wish, we find ourselves once again viewing a traditional “Once upon a time…” tale, the images of an open book in the opening sequence centering around magic, a kingdom on an island, a charming central figure, Asha, and a villain who stands in the way of her dream. The story is set in a beautifully imagined enchanted kingdom full of happy villagers. In its midst, on a hill, a beautiful castle. The king and queen reign benevolently we are to believe. He is a wizard with magical powers who keeps his residents’ dreams safe, in little globes that float under a giant dome, and – at closer inspection – reveal each makers’ one true wish.
Asha and her family are ready to celebrate her grandfather’s centennial and the young woman, tossing her beautiful long black braids and wearing a long gown in a style ranging somewhere between medieval and oriental (the same style of the eclectic architecture in this make-believe world), has a special hope that this might finally be the year her grandfather is the recipient of one wish fulfilled by their king – in the annual public “Wish ceremony”.
WISH
We also quickly learn why: not only is it her grandfather’s 100 year-age, but her hope and secret that he will win if she can become very an assistant to the kingdom’s leader, whom she worships and like everyone, and places all her trust in his care.
Things are never what they seem, and as in every good fairytale the story holds plenty of twists, that make for lively entertainment for all ages. There are some animals who do unexpected things, a cute unexpected visitor, some chases and discoveries of wonderful places, lots of magic and breathtaking images and despite the perils, of course, a happy ending guaranteed.
The animation is lovely, the vistas dreamy, from boats floating in water to globes gliding through the skies, Asha and her supporting cast of friends quirky, and the evil character mostly alone in his quest to control everything.
While this is no match for its biggest films, we are sure of an afternoon of fun for the entire family.