Wish Review!

Wish is a fulfillment of the Disney100 celebration and tells a story of Asha resisting the control of hopes and dreams! It is co-directed and co-written by Chris Buck, the co-director of Frozen II (2019), and Fawn Vrrasunthorn is the co-director who prviously was the had of story for Raya and the Last Dragon (2021). The writing team includes Jennifer Lee, co-writer of Frozen II, and Allison Moore who writes for the Beacon 23, sci fi show. It opens like Disney animated classics with a storybook. We get that wishes “make you who you are.” The king becomes a sorcerer and the kingdom of Rosas is formed at an “island deep in the Mediterranean Sea.” King Magnifico gathers the wishes of citizens at 18 and takes their worries away about their wishes. This goes to a cottage where we see Asha voiced by Ariana DeBose. The actress has been a sensation since she played Anita in West Side Story (2021). Asha is a hopeful character who is about to turn 18.  

She places an insignia on her grandfather, Sabino (Victor Garber). Sabino is about to turn 100 years old. Garber appeared in the drama, Family Law. Sakina, Asha’s mother, voiced by Natasha Rothwell arrives at that time. The actress plays Belinda Lindsey on the series, The White Lotus. Sakina is there excited about the Wish Ceremony interrupted by the bleats of the goat, Valentino. He is voiced by Alan Tudyk, who has voiced many Disney characters including Strange World (2022). The animal sidekick here reminds me of Kiki's Delivery Service (1989). Asha wonders if they could understand him. She runs over to the docks to meet with a group of newly arrived immigrants. She shows them around the castle singing “Welcome to Rosas.” The songs are written by Julia Michaels who sang “In This Place” for Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) and Benjamin Rice who worked on A Star is Born (2018).  

The citizens of Rosas dress colorfully and the new immigrants wear more subdued yellow and brown colors. King Magnifico (Chris Pine) arrives with a flourish and fall of roses. Pine starred as Edgin in this year’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and also sang as Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods (2014). Asha meets with her friend and baker of Magnifico cookies, Dahlia voiced by Jennifer Kumiyama. A 2012 episode of the comedy, awkward featured Kumiyama. She also performed at Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular at Disney’s California Adventure. Dhalia has a wooden crutch at her side to help her walk, which almost didn't notice. She practices questions with Asha about her interview as the king’s assistant. Dhalia asks about her weakness and then tells Asha, “You care too much.” The other friends enter, there are six which seemed to be a few too many.

The cynical and short, Gabo (Harvey Guillén) is doubtful about Asha’s chances, he’s the Grumpy of the friends, but lacks the charm. Guillén is known for playing Guillermo de la Cruz in What We Do in the Shadows. Safi (Ramy Youssef) has allergies and sneezes on a cookie! Youssef appeared in the series, Ramy. Another friend is Bazeema (Della Saba) who suddenly appears and is shy. Saba voiced the young Judy Hopps in Zootopia (2016). Sleeping at table is the Simon (Evan Peters), he is burly, but low energy. Peters played Pietro Maximoff in WandaVision. The other friends are Hal (Niko Vargas) and  Dario (Jon Rudnitsky). Since they are human and not extreme in their character traits, I didn’t pick up that they are like the Dwarfs. They are interrupted by the arrival of Queen Amaya played by Angelique Cabral. Big Sky features Cabral as Carla. 

The queen gives Asha advise will they walk up steps and adds, “I’m rooting for you.” They enter a library and Queen Amaya leaves her. Asha looks at a tapestry that has a burnt edge and then a book behind a case. She looks closely at it and the magic symbols fly like glowing insects around her. These are returned back to the book by King Magnifico voiced by Chris Pine. Edgin was played by Pine in the fantasy film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. He also acting and sang in the musical movie, Into the Woods (2014). Magnifico, great name, has a grandeur about him. Asha says, “I can’t do much”, except that she acts as an ambassador to new citizens and also can sing! She does say her father was a philosopher that studied the stars. Magnifico says he had also lost his family which made him study magic. 

He takes her to his laboratory using magic to open the doors. Floating around the ceiling are the wishes, blue, glowing globes, like balloons. Magnifico says, “They are a part of your heart.” The king says he has kept the wishes of all of the people. He allows one wish to be made every month in the Wish Ceremony if it is helpful to the kingdom. Asha is stunned that so many wishes are held and not fulfilled. Magnifico begins the song, “At All Costs”, later joined by Asha who walks towards the wish of her grandfather. Inside the wish, Sabino is playing a guitar. Asha tries to ask if he can get his wish granted. Magnifico takes her to the main stage with Queen Amaya. Her seven friends are awed that Asha is on stage with the king and queen. Two new citizens give up their wishes. Magnifico grants the wish of Sania (Nasim Pedrad) for her to the best tailor. Pedrad played Dalia in the live action Aladdin (2019).  

Asha joins her family and wants to tell Sabino his wish. He says he doesn’t want to know his wish since it will never be fulfilled and break his heart. Asha walks into the forest with Valentino and sings, “This Wish”, a powerful, memorable song. She sees a vision of her younger self and her father sitting on a tree branch. Asha makes her wish to the stars and there is a wave that spreads throughout Rosas giving the citizens a feeling of joy. Magnifico tells Amaya that it is a warning. The Wish Star appears, almost a stuffie, it is a orangish star with a yellow face. Star has the child-like character of a Studio Ghibli creature like the soot sprites. Asha chases Star through a barn and the lil’ feller is caught in a red sweater. Star is amused by Asha and zips through the thread forming a star shape through the trees to answer her question. He awakens mushrooms, trees, and a rabbit thumping its leg. The last one is just a hint of the Easter Eggs. 

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