Steven

I felt disappointed by this movie, especially considering how Disney is using language like “100 years in the making” and “paying tribute” to the classics to promote it. You’d think another Disney classic was in the oven, but it’s genuinely half baked at best. A good reference for me when watching Disney movies is asking how it measures up to the classics that came before it. It’s not even close to being on par with movies like Snow White or Pinocchio, movies that came out literally 80 years ago and are still celebrated today, in terms of quality and innovation. People won’t be looking back on Wish 80 years from now and talking about how great it is. The songs are shallow (it’s possible that only the main song will still be celebrated decades from now), the animation and design is more reminiscent of video games, the pacing, the storytelling, the humor... There’s many instances where they pull convenient solutions to problems out of thin air rather than it being something well thought out or special. Similarly, so many “random” moments thrown in for a cheap laugh that hardly land. It seems like the easy way out was taken throughout the entire movie as if they couldn’t be bothered to actually put some serious thought into it. Into a movie 100 years in the making, celebrating Disney’s legacy. The short film Disney recently made does a much better job of this within ten minutes. This movie seems most concerned with getting by on its looks, representation, and wishful thinking. The representation is a plus, I appreciate that various races and cultures are included, queerness and disability aren’t hidden, depression is touched on. Those are good, welcome things that more movies could use to embrace diversity and move Hollywood forward. It’s strange to me for the creators of this movie to deliberately highlight the significantly better movies that came before it. It just feels like bait. If anything, it ultimately makes me think it would have been better to watch one of those instead and that Walt Disney himself wouldn’t be proud of it.

Essential viewing! Please watch it.

This movie is trying to do way too much. It's too scatterbrained, too long, too tedious, too caffeinated, and ultimately feels unsatisfying with the cliffhanger ending after all that. I could only hope the sequel isn't all over the place, but it's doubtful. Hollywood is loving alternate realities and psychedelic styles right now. The first movie was much more satisfying and cohesive if you ask me.

This is a good movie. It’s important to note that it will be most appreciated and understood by adults rather than young ones, but hopefully they’ll absorb some of the positive messages, enjoy the characters, have a few laughs, and appreciate the colorful visuals. It’s very much a movie about multiculturalism, class, heritage, prejudice, communication, acceptance, structural issues. It could have been more refined, but that could also be a reflection of how messy and complicated these issues can be. I’m glad I watched it despite all the scorn. I don’t think it’s warranted and hopefully this movie will be more appreciated as time goes on.