This week sees the release of WISH, the 62nd Disney animated film. The movie follows Asha (Ariana DeBose), a young woman whose wish upon a star accidentally sets her against sorcerer-king King Magnifico (Chris Pine). Julian Lytle has already reviewed the movie, so I’ll use this space to ruminate on what WISH is about from my perspective.
Asha (which means “hope” in Hindi) is a pretty classic Disney female protagonist (not a princess, in this case): she’s adorable, awkward, struggling with family problems (in this case, a 100-year-old grandfather [voiced by Victor Garber] whose wish has not been granted), and an animal sidekick, a goat named Valentino (Alan Tudyk, in superb Kelsey Grammer mode).
Magnifico is the sorcerer-king of Rosas, an island founded as a sanctuary for those who want to protect their dreams. “Protection” is a theme that animates both Asha and Magnifico; Asha seeks to protect her family by liberating their dreams while Magnifico believes only he can keep them safe, a belief that has curdled over time into selfish obsession.
Basically, though, it’s about the power of one’s most heartfelt dream to change a life or change the world. The people of Rosas have powerful wishes of their own–many of which correspond to Disney movies of decades past–but they will not see them granted because they’ve given power to achieve those dreams to Magnifico.
And that’s the point of the movie, ultimately: we should never give our dreams into the keeping of others, much less expect them to make those dreams a reality. Each of us has that power, each of us has a right to follow our dreams and try to make them come true. In the end, we shouldn’t look to magic to do the job. A wish is like a star in the sky, there to guide us but depending on our own efforts to make it happen.
I’ll wrap up by noting that this movie is LOADED with Easter eggs and “origin stories” for a whole lot of Disney icons. It’ll take a second or third viewing to catch them all. And there is a rather cute end-credit scene, but if the kids are restless, you can catch it on Disney+ soon enough.
What do you wish for? And what can you do today, now, to make that dream come true?
