REVIEW: WISH

3/5

When You Wish Upon...

95 Mins. Starring: Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber, Natasha Rothwell, Jennifer Kumiyama, Harvey Guillén, Evan Peters, Ramy Youssef & Jon Rudnitsky. Directors: Chris Buck & Fawn Veerasunthorn. On: Disney +.

When you embark upon a 100-year anniversary, you need something special to mark the outstanding occasion. Disney, who last year hit the milestone, and also celebrate 40 years of having one of their worlds in Tokyo, Japan this calendar, had that in their new intro, like an extended Marvel I.D. (now part of their family). A star skipped across a stream before flying past trains from Big Thunder Mountain and many magical worlds that they have shown you, shining, shimmering and splendid. Ascending through a wonderful waterfall, with not a dry eye in the land as that iconic castle came into view, 'Cinderella' transformed. Sparkling with fireworks all around the palace, like Disneyland on a good day of weather. Walt Disney and Mickey's team also needed a film to commemorate this century like the ode to it all 'Once Upon A Studio' dream short, bringing everyone together for the greatest group photo since that Oscar selfie, Bradley Cooper was the maestro of. In this field of childhood dreams, we'd all know they'd come like Disneyland in Golden Week, or flocking this way to the 'Jurassic Park' rides of USJ. But who better to build this than the creators of 'Frozen'?

Letting it go, directors Chris Buck ('Tarzan', 'Surfs Up') and Fawn Veerasunthorn ('Moana', 'Zootopia') gives us a new 'Wish' upon a star and the literal star itself, aptly named...erm...Star. Before you realize there was a writer's strike, know that, simply put, is sometimes best. And this works wonders, as one of the cutest characters in Disney history, keeping it silent like old movies, is one of the most sought after fluffy toy in UFO catching crane games ("THE CLAAAAW!") here in the toy story world of Tokyo. Even if it does remind you a little of the SEGA video game character Ristar, who was meant to be next in line after Sonic, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Just wait until Star tries to avoid detection with a master disguise that Taylor and Travis should think about the next time they head out to town. He ties everything together here, like all the references, with a ball of twine you'll want to chase like a cat as castles and horse-drawn carriages pull this 'Wild' wish like a slipper made of glass. 

Oscar winner and 'West Side Story' walk of fame star Ariana DeBose brings it on with a grand performance. The 'Hamilton', 'Pippin', 'Motown: The Musical' star and Tony nominee and host more than holds her stage in a fabulous feature. Dropping the mic on a hundred with one of the best Disney numbers in its musical, great American fairytale songbook. You'll be singing along to 'The Wish' and its chart crossover, no clichéd gimmick, for years. In this mesmerizing musical fantasy film, led by a bleating goat, the great Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber, Natasha Rothwell, Jennifer Kumiyama, Harvey Guillén, Evan Peters, Ramy Youssef and Jon Rudnitsky head a classic cast of vivid voices. But it's the legendary new look of the NFG of Chris Pine who steals the show, like his new surfer style that's going viral. The 'Star Trek' star of 'The Princess Diaries', and most recently 'Dungeons and Dragons', becoming a fangirl fantasy dream has gone 'Into The Woods' with Disney before. From 'A Wrinkle In Time', to the best wooden gag in the live action 'Pinocchio'. But no lie, he actually looks like his character here. Before he blew out his hair and beard, that is. Magnifico. 

Over the definitive, defiant decades, Disney has made its mark and changed the game. From whistling whilst they work on 'Steamboat Willie', to wowing the world with the CGI wonder of 'Toy Story' back in a 90s, heading for the future of the year 2000. Yet, the love of the original animation has remained true, like the New Orleans outstanding capturing of 'The Princess and The Frog'. But in this year of embracing change, and everyone's world, that began with 'The Little Mermaid' splashing water at all the hate, 'Wish' wonders upon something different. Blending animation with the kind of computer animation that made Pixar proud. It's a bold move for their centennial...and almost a masterful one. But you only need to see 'The Boy and the Heron' returning those classic Japanese Studio Ghibli animations back to the Oscars, after the just as significant studio's own digital age experiment, to know that sometimes it's best to carry on tradition. And what a legendary legacy. From Mickey Mouse's 'Fantasia', to building a snowman from 'Frozen', constellations of Disney classics roll with the credits to celebrate the coronation of their century anniversary. When you wish upon a star after 100 years, your dreams still come true. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Wishing: 'Frozen', 'Encanto', 'Once Upon A Studio'.