Disney’s ‘Wish’ Lacks the Luster It Is Striving For in Centennial Tribute

Disney’s ‘Wish’ Lacks the Luster It Is Striving For in Centennial Tribute

By Lynn Venhaus
The idealist in me wants to believe in Disney magic, of good triumphing over evil, of the power of community, and memorable moments, often with hopeful songs, that “Wish” embodies. 

Nevertheless, the cynic in me wonders if Disney’s reliance on their formula, just in time for the holidays, to endear a whole new line of toys to their loyal fans, makes the film lack the luster that “Frozen” and “Encanto” did.

Because the leading lady Asha’s pet goat Valentino, voiced by Disney regular Alan Tudyk, is certain to fly off the shelves, with its lovable demeanor and snappy dialogue. And the cosmic force that changes the plot’s trajectory, a Star, is drawn as a golden ball of energy. Cha-ching.

But we should be used to this, especially after the Disney Renaissance of the 1990s, where the Disney princesses became icons and prestige was bestowed with many awards for the animated musicals’ songs and scores. The bar was raised.

However, in recent years, the Disney output has been a mixed bag of highs and lows. For every “Zootopia,” there’s a “Strange World.” And I’m not even going to mention the live action remakes.

For all its good intentions to celebrate the Walt Disney Studios’ centennial, “Wish,” which is supposed to be the musical origin story for the “Wishing Star” that Disney is famous for, feels like a cut-and-paste tribute. 

Co-written  by the “Frozen” team of Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, along with Allison Moore, “Wish” follows a young girl named Asha who attempts to save the fantastical Kingdom of Rosas from darkness. She wishes on a star and that trouble-making beacon comes down from the sky to join her because King Magnifico, a sorcerer, isn’t all that he seems to be.

Asha has seven friends who are grumpy, dopey, sneezy, and so forth – wink, wink. Sure, plenty of Easter eggs, but the homages are often nods to better efforts, and are missing the magic they are trying so hard to create.

The plucky heroine, a compassionate and smart peasant girl, rallies her beloved community because the cunning ruler, King Magnifico, voiced by a first-rate Chris Pine as both unctuous and ruthless, becomes a megalomaniac before our eyes. The whole wish symbolism gets a little muddled if you think about what all that means — putting your hopes and dreams into an omnipotent ruler.

As Asha, Ariana DeBose is a powerhouse vocalist, and the animators wisely capture her lithe dancing style, plus she can emotionally connect as the character.

While female empowerment is always worthy, with positive portrayals to propel this musical comedy, the other message is a noble one, and actually a little daring with its cautionary tale on authoritarianism and fascism. (Real world headlines intrude!)

The vocal work is fine – among the recognizable names, Victor Garber is a sympathetic grandfather Sabino, Evan Peters is Simon, one of Asha’s friends, and Ramy Youssef is Safi.

But the script is rather slight, and the music doesn’t seem to have a break-out original song like the “Encanto” or “Moana” songbook. Nevertheless, “This Wish” and “Knowing What I Know Now” are catchy – just not earworms like “Let It Go” or the Menken-Ashman canon. 

Stay for the credits because they will include every Disney animated feature in artwork, and there is a bonus scene with an iconic Disney song.

“Wish” is pleasant enough – just not as endearing as we’ve come to expect from the Mouse House. But its statement, perhaps aimed at a certain governor of the state where Disney World is based, is funny in a sly master stroke way. The movie’s message: Be careful what you wish for.

“Wish” is a 2023 animated musical fantasy directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn and starring Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, VIctor Garber, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Evan Peters and Ramy Youssef. It is rated PG for thematic elements and mild action, and the run time is 1 hour, 35 minutes. It opened in theatres Nov. 22. Lynn’s Grade: B-.

Pixar Origin Story ‘Lightyear’ Sputters As Serious Space Adventure

Pixar Origin Story ‘Lightyear’ Sputters As Serious Space Adventure

By Lynn Venhaus

Heading ‘to infinity and beyond” with a heroic Space Ranger, “Lightyear,” sounds like an exciting flight of fancy. However, the first spin-off from the beloved “Toy Story” franchise sputters with a not very kid-friendly storyline.

And not really any connection to the four “Toy Story” movies except in name only. Confused? Join the club. We’re in an intergalactic mission that involves time travel and space aeronautic snafus.

This is the movie that made Buzz Lightyear a coveted toy. While spending years trying to return home, marooned Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans) encounters an army of ruthless robots commanded by Zurg (Josh Brolin), who are attempting to steal his fuel source.

They make it clear right away that “Lightyear” is the movie that introduced Buzz to the mass audience, and then made him an action figure. That likely was a factor in replacing sitcom actor Tim Allen, who voiced Buzz in four movies, with the known-as-hero Chris Evans, best known as Avengers’ Captain America.

But the marketing of this film hasn’t been so obvious.

For the Pixar Animation Studios, it’s a surprising stumble, for the animation is customary next level, with dazzling outer space panoramas and state-of-the-art tech know-how conveyed in intense detail.

The vision is ambitious, showcasing a far-away planet that the space cowboys colonize as their new home while still working on multiple projects.

But it’s not enough, even with a topnotch vocal cast — Chris Evans is the stand-up Space Ranger, Uzo Aduba is his respected supervisor Alicia Hawthorne, Keke Palmer is her granddaughter Izzy, Taika Waititi is comical crew member Mo Morrison and Efren Ramirez is Airman Diaz.

The diverse cast is a plus, and Alicia Hawthorne is in a same-sex marriage for a Pixar first.

Best is Peter Sohn as the robotic pet cat “Socks” – a delightful source of goofy humor, not unlike the welcome comic relief of break-out character Forky in “Toy Story 4” in 2019.

But most of the time, this origin story is very serious. And that’s disappointing, as this animated sci-fi fantasy never quit takes off because the story itself is underwhelming and bewildering.

The screenplay is by Jason Headley, who wrote one of the lesser Pixar films “Onward,” with story by director Angus MacLane (“The Incredibles”), Matthew Aldrich (“Coco”) and Headley.

It has more in common with Christopher Nolan’s dense and unwieldy “Interstellar” and even the Dreamworks’ animated film, “Over the Moon” in 2020, than it does with the toys that came to life in one of the most successful animated series ever. The original was the first Pixar/Disney film to be nominated for Best Original Screenplay.

Pixar genius Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton and Joe Ranft had created those beloved characters. In the 27 years since the original “Toy Story” – first completely computer-generated graphic images — opened a marvelous make-believe world of toys having their own lives outside their role-play duties with kid owners, there have been three sequels that expanded the toy-chest universe and broader heart-tugging themes that challenge and change them.

The third one in 2010 and the fourth one in 2019 both won the Oscar for feature animated film (the award wasn’t given out until 2001, therefore the first two, in 1995 and 1999, weren’t eligible).

With its track record of excellence, Pixar has collected 18 Academy Awards for its films. Sadly, “Lightyear” isn’t on the same level.

The youngsters at my screening seemed very restless, and its appeal to younger tykes is uncertain. However, those who are captivated by the film will want to stay through the entire credits, as there are three more scenes.

TEAMING UP – Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” is a sci-fi action adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans), the hero who inspired the toy. The all-new story follows the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure alongside a group of ambitious recruits (voices of Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi and Dale Soules), and their robot companion Sox (voice of Peter Sohn). Also joining the cast are Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez and Isiah Whitlock Jr. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”), “Lightyear” releases June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

“Lightyear” is a 2022 animated sci-fi fantasy feature film directed by Angus MacLane and featuring voices of Chris Evans, Uzo Aduba, Josh Brolin, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Taiki Waititi and Efren Ramirez. It is fated PG for action/peril and is 2 hour, 40 minutes long. It opened in theaters on June 17. Lynn’s Take: C+