I do wonder whether it is the division over whether Magnifico or Asha were ultimately being more reasonable is part of the reason the film has sparked a particularly strong reaction. The film very strongly leans one way, but I think the fact that other people see a lot more ambiguity around the central conflict or flat out take the opposite view from the filmmakers makes the resolution seem unfair and thus irritating to an extent you don't find in many films.
"You can't have heroes and villains when the wrong side is making the best sense." - from Roger Ebert's review of
I Am Sam. If Veerasunthorn, Buck, and company had truly made it clear that people in Rosas were
suffering without their wishes, that life there was only "just good enough" rather than peaceful, tolerant, thriving, and creative, it could have made all the difference in the world. As it is Rosas looks like as close to actual utopia to most viewers as could be imagined,
so what if a few wishes don't get granted? It's hard not to be jealous and look at Asha as an ungrateful, ditzy brat whom the story gives all the advantages to - i.e.,
why did Star come to her?
I think another reason a lot of people didn't enjoy the film can be found in these discussions. You'll hardly if ever see a review or comment about the film where the viewer brings up a moment that was touching, or a relationship that was moving....because, from all I've seen of the film, the characters don't have
actual relationships with each other. Some viewers complain that the movie is virtually all expository dialogue and lyrics; the characters don't seem to spend time doing anything besides explaining things like "I am your friend" and "This is how the wishes work", making "funny" quips, and moving from plot point to plot point. You have to read the tie-in books to know what Sakina's wish was, Sabino composing and singing a song after getting his wish back was animated but cut, Amaya stops loving her husband in the course of a day despite presumably knowing what kind of a man he was for years, the townspeople think Asha is their enemy up until Magnifico threatens them, Simon is instantly forgiven when Magnifico isn't - even though, technically, both were brainwashed after doing what they thought was in their best interests if not those of others. Since there's no romance, no friendship, no playtime, no enmity...there's nothing to latch onto. We don't know anything of Magnifico or Asha's relationships to their deceased loved ones beyond some generic homilies. Sabino deserves his wish granted because...he is 100 years old and the heroine's relative. That's it. Has he ever held a meaningful job? Is he loved by the community?
Like, there's nothing like Anna going to the door each day to ask Elsa if she wants to play, or Belle assuring her father (the joke of the town) that she believes in his work, or Sebastian trying to give Ariel tips on wooing Eric, or Snow White praying that Grumpy will come to like her, or all the time spent between Simba and Mufasa. And that makes such a difference.
