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One hundred years ago, Walt Disney set out to make his own wishes come true—and one short cartoon led to the entertainment empire that it is today. And in the studio’s 100th anniversary release, Wish, a young girl helps her city celebrate their own life’s dreams.
Wish travels to the city of Rosas, where sorcerer/king Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine) offers his people protection from the pain of the outside world by keeping their heart’s greatest wishes safe—and each month, he chooses to grant one that he deems safe for the people and their kingdom. When a young girl named Asha (Ariana DeBose) learns that Magnifico has decided that her grandfather’s wish—to inspire the next generation—is too dangerous to be granted, she wishes on a magical star that comes down to Rosas to help her set the people’s wishes free.
As Asha, her friends, her now-talking goat, and her mischievous magical star plot to return the wishes to the people of Rosas, their story is playful and musical and more than a little revolutionary. Magnifico’s journey is messy and underdeveloped but really rather terrifying, too—the story of a man who turned hardship into action and action into control. But it also shows the power that a small group of normal, everyday people—even young people—can have. And it does it all with humor and cookies and talking mushrooms.
But Wish isn’t just a lovable Disney musical about a girl who sets out to give her family the freedom to make their own wishes come true. It’s also a sneaky tribute to 100 years of Disney. As you’re watching, you may catch glimpses of things that seem oddly familiar: a character’s appearance or personality, a shape, a color, a flash of movement. And as it happens more and more often, you’ll start to realize that it’s not just déjà vu—or maybe just lazy filmmaking—it’s intentional. The film is full of Easter eggs—references to 100 years of Disney’s beloved films. It’s a treat for Disney fans—and it’ll make you want to go back and watch it again, so you can hunt for more of these clever little throwbacks.
On the surface, Wish is another fun-filled adventure for your Family Movie Nights. More than just a sweet and surprisingly rebellious animated musical, though, it’s also a clever little puzzle of a film that pays homage to Walt and his dream—and to the fans who have been there along the way.
If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving weekend getaway for the family, you can head out to see Wish at your favorite theater starting on November 22, 2023.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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