Wish (Walt Disney Animation - November 2023)

[Phroobar]

I was on a Carnival cruise to Mexico last week. The ship showed Wish. I noticed most people in the pool area just got up and left when the movie started. Others just ignored it and did more drinking. However, families showed up for Trolls Band Together and Wonka.

 

[TsWade2]

This is an interesting good-faith look at why the animation in Wish isn't satisfying for many viewers. I don't like Tangled myself, but I do respect the quality of its animation and world-establishing a lot more for the comparisons she draws between the two films. (You will have to visit YT itself to watch the video in the link.)

Sorry, but I don't want to hear it.

 

[TP2000]

The YouTube algorithm is mysterious. I was trying to find recipes for grilled stone fruits tonight to impress the neighbors, and it kept trying to show me this alongside the recipes. So I finally watched, and I laughed. Did we already do this one here?

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

In case anyone was wondering, the former watch shop on Main Street remains entirely filled with Wish merchandise at 40% off. Other Wish merchandise is labeled at the same sale price in other locations as well.

 

[WorldExplorer]

In case anyone was wondering, the former watch shop on Main Street remains entirely filled with Wish merchandise at 40% off. Other Wish merchandise is labeled at the same sale price in other locations as well.

Funnily enough, when the discounts started it excluded the Dooney and Burke (the items in Uptown Jewelers, the former watch shop). Now it includes them.

 

[CinematicFusion]

Several factors contributed to its poor performance. Firstly, the SAG-AFTRA strike limited promotion, and traditional TV and print ads just don’t work anymore. Hollywood doesn’t have that captive audience like it used to with shows like “Full House” where people sat through movie commercials. Additionally, the critics weren’t kind, pointing out flaws in the plot and soundtrack. Personally, I felt the story should have focused more on the antagonist, as his narrative was much more compelling.

 

[Phroobar]

Several factors contributed to its poor performance. Firstly, the SAG-AFTRA strike limited promotion, and traditional TV and print ads just don’t work anymore. Hollywood doesn’t have that captive audience like it used to with shows like “Full House” where people sat through movie commercials. Additionally, the critics weren’t kind, pointing out flaws in the plot and soundtrack. Personally, I felt the story should have focused more on the antagonist, as his narrative was much more compelling.

People knew it was out there. They just didn't care enough to see it. Even the Cult of Disney didn't show up. If they did, the cult is much smaller than we give them credit for. Even around here, I bet most forum members didn't bother. I know I didn't bother and still didn't when presented free to me.

 

[CinematicFusion]

People knew it was out there. They just didn't care enough to see it. Even the Cult of Disney didn't show up. If they did, the cult is much smaller than we give them credit for. Even around here, I bet most forum members didn't bother. I know I didn't bother and still didn't when presented free to me.

“Wish” did not resonate well with audiences for several reasons. One significant issue is that the main character, Asha, appears almost too perfect from the start. The line “No, you care too much” suggests that her primary flaw is her excessive empathy, which isn’t seen as a real weakness or a point of growth. This lack of substantial character development or room for growth can make it harder for audiences to connect with her journey.

 

[Tha Realest]

Several factors contributed to its poor performance. Firstly, the SAG-AFTRA strike limited promotion, and traditional TV and print ads just don’t work anymore. Hollywood doesn’t have that captive audience like it used to with shows like “Full House” where people sat through movie commercials. Additionally, the critics weren’t kind, pointing out flaws in the plot and soundtrack. Personally, I felt the story should have focused more on the antagonist, as his narrative was much more compelling.

Ah yes, people didn’t go see it because Ariana DeBose wouldn’t go on Jimmy Kimmel and tell his dwindling audience a series of canned anecdotes for a few minutes.

 

[Miss Rori]

Yeah, I don't think Disney/Pixar animated features, in general, have benefitted much from the performers doing the talk show circuit. And the Wish promotional campaign arguably wasn't good enough to work -- it really struggled to explain what the story was and why people should care about it, if it wasn't just focusing on goofy goat and chicken gags. A lot of that might go back to the inherent flaws of the movie, though, not giving marketers much to work with.

 

[Miss Rori]

Funnily enough, when the discounts started it excluded the Dooney and Burke (the items in Uptown Jewelers, the former watch shop). Now it includes them.

Ditto for the Loungefly merch at ShopDisney.com, and that brand only gets discounted when nobody wants a specific item.

 

[Miss Rori]

The line “No, you care too much” suggests that her primary flaw is her excessive empathy, which isn’t seen as a real weakness or a point of growth. This lack of substantial character development or room for growth can make it harder for audiences to connect with her journey.

Ironically, she really just cares too much about herself. She's so mad that her family won't get their wishes granted because of how badly she broached the situation with Magnifico that she decides she knows better than everybody else about what's best for them and the kingdom, and inadvertently nearly destroys it in the process. (i.e., Why didn't she and Star try to free everybody's wishes right away, instead of just getting her family's out of the tower?)

 

[CinematicFusion]

Ironically, she really just cares too much about herself. She's so mad that her family won't get their wishes granted because of how badly she broached the situation with Magnifico that she decides she knows better than everybody else about what's best for them and the kingdom, and inadvertently nearly destroys it in the process. (i.e., Why didn't she and Star try to free everybody's wishes right away, instead of just getting her family's out of the tower?)

Good point

 

[DCLcruiser]

At first I was really excited for the movie based on the original art as this looked to be medieval or older story from Moorish Spain. Frankly, I think it would have been better taking place farther back in Mesopotamia.

The origins of the wishing star, would be cool.

Well, it went much lighter than expected.

I didn't like that a lot of the characters looked like they were recycled from Strange World, etc. That was either by design (a link to future movies) or cost cutting in the CGI department.

If the movie wasn't supposed to be an ancient Western Civilization, and instead it was a prequel to all future Disney characters, then they should have really gone all out. There are easter eggs and references to future characters (some depicted), but I am sure that was missed by a lot of people.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Hell, even the Mirror transformation was so fast that most probably didn't realize the incredible significance of Magnifico.

Overall, I had a lot of hope for this movie, but it fell flat. I do enjoy playing some of the music for my kid.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I’ve still only watched this once on D+, pretty bad when people are scrolling past new movies (they’ve only seen once) to click on old movies they’ve seen dozens of times.

 

[Phroobar]

At first I was really excited for the movie based on the original art as this looked to be medieval or older story from Moorish Spain. Frankly, I think it would have been better taking place farther back in Mesopotamia.

The origins of the wishing star, would be cool.

Well, it went much lighter than expected.

I didn't like that a lot of the characters looked like they were recycled from Strange World, etc. That was either by design (a link to future movies) or cost cutting in the CGI department.

If the movie wasn't supposed to be an ancient Western Civilization, and instead it was a prequel to all future Disney characters, then they should have really gone all out. There are easter eggs and references to future characters (some depicted), but I am sure that was missed by a lot of people.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Hell, even the Mirror transformation was so fast that most probably didn't realize the incredible significance of Magnifico.

Overall, I had a lot of hope for this movie, but it fell flat. I do enjoy playing some of the music for my kid.

Star should have been Peter Pan like they originally intended. Instead they decide to rip off Super Mario Galaxy.

 

[brideck]

The line “No, you care too much” suggests that her primary flaw is her excessive empathy, which isn’t seen as a real weakness or a point of growth.

That line is a joke, no? And not a particularly new one at that. It's one of those classic interview gags where you should state that your biggest weakness is actually a strength (and is obviously untrue to boot). Pretty sure that sort of thing can be found all through '80s/'90s sitcoms, if not earlier.

 

[Miss Rori]

I think it’s supposed to be a signpost of how we’re supposed to see Asha anyway given Amaya’s explanation for why she’s a candidate for apprentice. There’s a lot of telling-not-showing in the movie after all.

 

[TsWade2]

I had a enough of this! I'm done obsessing with Wish! And I have enough of this negativity! I'm moving forward. Wish has it's justice on DisneyPlus anyway, and don't be too surprise that Disney fans will warm up to Wish and eventually become a cult classic.

 

[Miss Rori]

I’ve still only watched this once on D+, pretty bad when people are scrolling past new movies (they’ve only seen once) to click on old movies they’ve seen dozens of times.

Checking the most recent Nielsen numbers for streaming movies, from a month ago (thus mid-May), the one Disney+ movie that cracked the top ten was Moana at #8. A good sign for Moana 2 but not so great for Wish if its numbers fell off so quickly.