Wish: Disney Christmas 2023 leaves us wanting more (review)
With its obsession with celebrating the studio’s 100th anniversary by passing on its heritage to future generations, the new Disney, although not devoid of quality, is cruelly lacking in roughness.
Asha is a 17-year-old young woman, dedicated and determined to have a job interview with King Magnifico, regent of the city of Rosas. The dream fades when Asha realizes that Magnifico is a control freak egoist who sells wind to his followers. The disillusionment is great, but Asha lands on her feet by advocating benevolence – as a result her lucky star, Star literally falls from the sky. Disney values will then block the evil Magnifico.
The worn chromatic palette immerses us in a sublime Mediterranean environment, in the depths of long summer evenings animated by the fantastic “Disneysque”. The midnight blue glow of the animation harmonizes naturally with the magical dimension that the stardust transfuses into the faunal landscape. The animation technique flirts from time to time with a watercolor aspect which recalls the warm cottage of Rapunzel.
But if animation delights our iris, the studio, far from being satisfied with simple easter eggs, took a (too) risky gamble by featuring its key characters in an animation that distorts the original works. Little John, Peter Pan and even Bambi are represented in a 3D style which gives them features foreign to their original silhouette. Even if the fashion is for the multiverse, these explicit appearances contribute to a disruption of the good understanding of this film, supposed to celebrate the 100 years of the studio. Wish- Asha and the lucky star is the Disney film which closes an era, but which, above all, intends to initiate a new era for future generations. A specification that crushes everything.
Disney plans to return to 2D for its future projects
The universe of wish will undeniably get the little ones started, who will obviously be curious to know what universe is hidden behind the singular appearances of Peter Pan or Bambi. But this academic side of very diligent students is not enough to make a great or even a good film. And without singing the tune of it was better before, alongside the countless peaks of animation discovered this year – from Mars Express has Linda wants chicken! Passing by Blind willows, sleeping woman, Suzume, The First Slam Dunk, The Boy and the Heron… – and even, for the little ones, in comparison with the rest of the Paw PatrolDisney Christmas 2023 looks pretty pale.
By Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn. With the voices (in French) of Océane Demontis, Lambert Wilson, Isabelle Adjani… Duration: 1h35. Released November 29, 2023
