{"id":68859,"date":"2023-11-24T23:30:49","date_gmt":"2023-11-24T23:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rapidcelnews.com\/?p=68859"},"modified":"2023-11-24T23:30:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T23:30:49","slug":"wish-review-it-is-wishful-thinking-disney-could-emulate-the-success-of-fresh-feisty-and-funny-frozen-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rapidcelnews.com\/tv-movies\/wish-review-it-is-wishful-thinking-disney-could-emulate-the-success-of-fresh-feisty-and-funny-frozen-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Wish review: It is wishful thinking Disney could emulate the success of fresh, feisty and funny Frozen | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

WISH<\/h2>\n

(U) 95mins <\/p>\n

\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/span><\/h2>\n

IT\u2019S wishful thinking that Disney could emulate the success of the fresh, feisty and funny Frozen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Like trying to recreate a delicious meal with all the same ingredients \u2014 a strong female lead living in a beautiful, remote place who tries to stem someone\u2019s magical powers \u2014 Wish is what the Disney diner has served up.<\/p>\n

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But there is simply not enough spice or seasoning here to make this a memorable dish.<\/p>\n

This centenary film to mark the year-long celebration of 100 years of Walt Disney is the story of young Asha (Ariana DeBose) who lives in the magical kingdom of Rosas.<\/p>\n

The first scene harps back to many classics, with the opening of a storybook and the words, \u201cOnce upon a time\u2009.\u2009.\u2009.\u2009\u201d It then uses this device as a tool to explain the slightly convoluted rules that govern Rosas.<\/p>\n

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Beloved King Magnifico (Chris Pine) collects a wish from everyone when they turn 18. Then, when he\u2019s compiled them into a giant bauble that floats around the ceiling of his castle, the giver of the wish forgets his or her desire to do something extraordinary.<\/p>\n

They just get on with their life, never knowing what their wish was.<\/p>\n

Magnifico chooses one wish to grant every year, but the rest he just, well, keeps.<\/p>\n

Asha applies for a job as the king\u2019s apprentice, which makes her soon discover that he has other plans for the wishes.<\/p>\n

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He wants his citizens to desire little from life and have control over their hopes and dreams. While once seeming to be a handsome hero, he\u2019s quickly revealed as a narcissist wanting to dangle empty promises over the kingdom.<\/p>\n

So Asha wishes upon a star for the ability to change all this \u2014 and summons a literal star who helps with her quest.<\/p>\n

There are some cracking power ballads, with DeBose getting the goosebumps rising, a cute sidekick in the form of a baby goat and plenty of nods to other Disney movies and their characters.<\/p>\n

And the illustration also doffs its cap to former films, with the design being in both 2D and 3D.<\/p>\n

But the humour and heart of Frozen, Moana and Tangled are just not there \u2014 and there\u2019s very little jeopardy or magical moments that make your eyes well up with tears of joy.<\/p>\n

Sweet enough, but it won\u2019t get its wish of being a Disney classic.<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER<\/h2>\n

(12A) 96mins <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/span><\/h2>\n

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DIRECTOR Joanna Hogg treats us to a double dose of Tilda Swinton in this nuanced, atmospheric and gentle ghostly tale.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Swinton (in captivating, ethereal form) plays both filmmaker Julie and her elderly widowed mother, Rosalind.<\/p>\n

The pair check into a Gothic Welsh country house hotel where Rosalind \u2013\u200a a genteel woman with a clipped accent, pearls, tweed skirts and faithful spaniel Ludo by her side \u2013 spent time as a child and Julie, seeking inspiration for her new screenplay, hopes to unearth buried memories.<\/p>\n

But things seem amiss. Surly receptionist (Carly- Sophia Davies) insists rooms are fully booked but keys hang behind her and no other guests emerge.<\/p>\n

The floorboards creak, windows bang and Ludo whines repeatedly. Richly layered set textures are deftly employed to unsettle \u2013 walls are dark and foreboding and lamps dim, while neat modern touches, such as Julie\u2019s trainers, playfully add contrast to keep us guessing whether this house is haunted or not.<\/p>\n

Clever use of framing keeps nerves jangling until the emotive truth is finally revealed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

FILM NEWS<\/h3>\n