Wish (2023)
Directors: Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn
Screenwriters: Jennifer Lee, Allison Moore
Starring: Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber, Natasha Rothwell, Jennifer Kumiyama, Harvey Guillén, Evan Peters, Ramy Youssef, Jon Rudnitsky
Celebrating a century of Disney is no small task. What began nearly one hundred years ago with animated shorts featuring iconic characters has grown into a global entertainment giant. For its centennial release, Disney delivered Wish, a film that consciously looks back at the studio’s legacy while trying to present a fresh, modern fairy tale. The result is ambitious in concept but uneven in execution.
After a period in which Disney recalibrated its animation output, returning to original animated features such as Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto, and others, the studio leaned into a nostalgically styled musical with Wish. The film clearly nods to Disney’s past: it centers on the enduring motif of “wishing upon a star,” a theme first popularized in Pinocchio and now synonymous with the Disney brand. That choice allows the movie to attempt a full-circle celebration of the studio’s foundational myth while also positioning a new protagonist at the center of the story.
Wish is set in the kingdom of Rosas, ruled by the charismatic but enigmatic King Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine). In Rosas, a ritual requires that when citizens turn eighteen, they entrust their greatest wish to the king to be safeguarded—promised the possibility of coming true someday. Asha (voiced by Ariana DeBose) is the spirited heroine who, upon learning unsettling truths about Magnifico’s motives, resolves to take action and protect her community’s hopes. Her journey, which includes literally wishing upon a star, forms the emotional spine of the film.
The film’s strongest thread is Asha herself. Ariana DeBose’s vocal performance brings warmth, energy, and clarity to the character, making Asha the most emotionally grounded element in an otherwise cluttered picture. Asha’s determination and moral center give the audience a figure to root for—one who questions authority and seeks to reunite a divided community around shared aspirations rather than promises controlled by a single ruler.
Where Wish falters is in its supporting cast and overall emotional depth. The film assembles a large and diverse ensemble—family members, friends, and comic sidekicks—clearly designed to reflect contemporary values of inclusion and representation. On paper, this is admirable. In practice, many of these characters are thinly sketched and function more as symbols than fully realized individuals. Their presence emphasizes diversity but rarely contributes meaningful development or stakes, which reduces the audience’s emotional investment in their fates.
The movie’s visual approach is notable. Wish intentionally references the hand-drawn animation aesthetic of classic Disney musicals while blending contemporary techniques, resulting in a stylized look that aims to evoke nostalgia. The film also embraces musical storytelling, featuring several numbers meant to amplify character and theme. One standout sequence, “Knowing What I Know Now,” attempts to showcase the kingdom’s variety of personalities and backgrounds through dance and staging. Although visually appealing, these musical moments sometimes feel constructed to convey a message rather than emerge organically from character motivation.
Running a brisk ninety-five minutes, Wish moves quickly—perhaps too quickly. The pace keeps the film lively for younger viewers but often shortchanges plot development and character arcs. Important emotional beats receive cursory treatment, and the film rarely allows its central conflicts to breathe. That economy of storytelling contributes to a sense that the movie was designed as both entertainment and corporate celebration rather than as a fully committed, emotionally resonant work of art.
Despite its shortcomings, Wish contains authentic and promising ideas. The premise of reclaiming the power of wishing—transforming passive hope into collective agency—is a fertile narrative terrain. When the film leans into that idea and trusts its protagonist’s convictions, it shows genuine heart. The decision to blend traditional animation influences with modern production values is a welcome creative choice that could have been the foundation for something more memorable.
Ultimately, Wish feels like a mixed offering: visually inventive in places and anchored by a strong lead performance, yet undermined by thin supporting characters and a tendency toward self-congratulatory nostalgia. For children and families, the movie will likely provide enough spectacle and charm to entertain. For viewers seeking a deeper, more emotionally rigorous fairy tale, Wish may come across as a missed opportunity—an ambitious centennial salute that needed more time and heart to fully deliver on its promise.
Score: 7/24