The concept of wishing upon a star is embedded in the DNA of The Walt Disney Company, Disney theatrical motion pictures and Disneyland and Disney World.

“When You Wish Upon A Star,” written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington, and sung by Cliff Edwards (who voiced Jiminy Cricket) in “Pinocchio” (1940), the Disney animated feature motion picture, received the 1940 Academy Award for Best Original Song.

The song was the theme song for TV’s “The Magical World of Disney” (1954-1997). An instrumental version is heard over the Walt Disney Pictures logo at the beginning of many of the studio’s films since 1985.

The first five notes of “When You Wish Upon A Star” figure prominently throughout on the soundtrack of the movie “Wish.” The movie’s release is timed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company.

In the movie “Wish,” Asha (voiced by Ariana DeBose) applies to become the apprentice of King Magnifico (Chris Pine), who with Queen Amaya (Angelique Cabral), rules the Kingdom of Rosas, a fictional realm in the Mediterranean Sea.

Asha discovers that King Magnifico isn’t all that magnificent. The King doesn’t have the best wishes of his citizens at heart. Soon, Asha and the King are at loggerheads.

Asha’s group of friends in “Wish” were inspired by characters from Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937).

Chris Buck (Oscar recipient, animated feature film, “Frozen,” 2012; director: “Frozen II,” 2019; “Tarzan,” 1999) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (animation feature film directorial debut; story artist, ”Ralph Breaks the Internet,” 2018; “Zootopia” 2016) direct from a screenplay by Jennifer Lee (Oscar recipient, animated feature film, “Frozen”; screenplay, “Frozen II”) and Allison Moore (animation feature screenplay debut; TV’s “Manhunt,” 2020) based on a story by Lee, Buck, Veerasunthorn and Moore with additional story material by Carlos López Estrada and Andrew Rothschild.

I wish I could report that the animated feature film, “Wish,” fulfills the lofty sentiments of the song, “When You Wish Upon A Star.” Alas, wish fulfillment is woefully lacking in “Wish,” Disney’s latest animated feature film.

“Wish” is a missed opportunity. The look of the film is great. Computer animation recreates the style of traditional hand-drawn animation. The characters are, by turns, cute, interesting and expressively-drawn.

There’s one exception and, importantly, it’s the, ahem, Star of the film. Star, literally, a big yellow star, is rendered in a style of animation that is not in keeping with the rest of the characterizations. Star is kind of an amorphous Dayglo blob.

Moreover, Star is not given a voice, which limits the character’s interaction opportunities with other characters.

Another aspect of “Wish” that throws the film out of orbit is a lack of development in the familial relationships, the transition of the villain and a lack of distinctive personalities for lead characters, with the exception of Asha. Yes, the animation of the characters is excellent, but they are not given enough to say or do.

Ariana DeBose (Oscar recipient, supporting actress, “West Side Story,” 2022) and Chris Pine (“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” 2023; “Into the Woods” 2014; “Star Trek,” 2009) are in good character voice and singing voice as Asha and King Magnifico, respectively. They duet nicely on “At All Costs.” DeBose is a standout on “This Wish.” The choral work and orchestrations by Dave Metzger (“Frozen,” “The Lion King”) are excellent.

That said, another disappointment in “Wish” are the songs written by Julia Michaels (“A Star Is Born,” 2018) and Benjamin Rice (“A Star Is Born”) and JP Saxe (“Fifty Shades Freed,” 2018). “Wish” is in the style of Disney animated feature film musicals. “Wish” is no “Frozen” (2013), “The Lion King” (1994), “Beauty and the Beast” (1991) or “The Little Mermaid” (1989). I wanted to sing along (Not to worry. There was only one other person in the movie theater during a recent midweek matinee 3D screening.) but none of the songs piqued my interest. I wish where was a “Let It Go” in “Wish.”

“Wish” concludes with an instrumental classical guitar instrumental version of “When You Wish Upon a Star.” That’s more like it.

“Wish” the movie seems to conclude with the philosophy that each of us has a wish, and no one else, not even a king or a star, can grant a wish, that only you or me can grant our own wish.

Where does that leave Disney? With that wish, Disney seems to be wishing itself out of its business model.

Nonetheless, we wish Disney a happy 100th anniversary.

“Wish,”

MPAA rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested Some material may not be suitable for children. Parents urged to give “parental guidance.” May contain some material parents might not like for their young children.) for thematic elements and mild action; Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy. Run time: One hour, 35 minutes. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

The end credits of “Wish” include Walt Disney animation film characters, outlined as constellations of stars. The font for the end credits is similar to that of the opening credits of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” At the very end of the credits, Sabino (Victor Garber) plays a guitar instrumental version of “When You Wish Upon A Star.”

At The Movies:

“Wish” was seen in the 3D format at AMC Center Valley 16. Other than some falling leaves, forced perspective foreground entrances and shooting stars, it’s not necessary to see “Wish” in 3D.

Theatrical Motion Picture Domestic Weekend Box Office,

Dec. 15-17: “Wonka,” starring Timothée Chalamet in the title role, opened at No. 1 with $39 million in 4,203 theaters.

“The Boy And The Heron” dropped two places from its one-week perch at No. 1 to No. 3 with $5.1 million in 2,325 theaters, $23.1 million, two weeks.

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” stayed in place at No. 2, with $5.8 million in 3,291 theaters, $145.2 million, five weeks.

4. “Godzilla Minus One” dropped one place, $4.8 million in 2,622 theaters, $34.2 million, three weeks. 5. “Trolls Band Together” dropped one place, $4 million in 3,157 theaters, $88.6 million, five weeks. 6. “Wish” stayed in place, $3.2 million in 3,100 theaters, $54.2 million, four weeks. 7. “Napoleon” stayed in place, $2.2 million in 2,601 theaters, $57 million, four weeks. 8.“Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” dropped three places, $2 million in 1,723 theaters, $30.8 million, three weeks. 9. “Poor Things” moved up eight places, $1.2 million in 82 theaters, $2.2 million, two weeks. 10. “The Shift” stayed in place, $1 million in 1,583 theaters, $10.6 million, three weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Dec. 17 is subject to change.

Unreel,

Dec. 22:

“The Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,”

PG-13: James Wan directs Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nicole Kidman, Ben Affleck, Amber Heard and Dolph Lundgren in the Action, Adventure Fantasy film. Aquaman resumes his role as king and member of the Justice League as Black Manta is on the prowl in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“Migration,”

PG: Benjamin Renner and Guylo Homsy direct the voice talents of Elizabeth Banks, Isabela Merced, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, Carol Kane, Danny DeVito and Kumail Nanjiani in the Animation, Action, Adventure. A duck family goes on the vacation of their lifetime.

“Anyone But You,”

R: Will Gluck directs Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Dermot Mulroney and Rachel Griffiths in the Romance Comedy. A first date leads to a reunion at a destination wedding in Australia.

“American Fiction,”

R: Cord Jefferson directs Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K. Brown, Tracee Ellis Ross, Leslie Uggams, Keith David and Issa Rae in the Comedy, Drama. A novelist writes a book about African-American culture.

“The Iron Claw,”

R: Sean Durkin directs Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harry Dickinson and Maura Tierney in the Biography, Drama, Sport. The film is based on the story of the Von Erich brothers professional wrestlers during the early 1980s.

Unreel,

Dec. 25

“The Color Purple,”

PG-13: Blitz Bazawule directs Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Halle Bailey, David Alan Grier, H.E.R., Jon Batiste and Lou Gossett Jr. in the Musical Drama. The Broadway musical based on the Alice Walker book is adapted for the big screen.

“Ferrari,”

R: Michael Mann directs Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz and Shailene Woodley in the Biography, Drama, History. Based on a true story, in the summer of 1957, Enzo Ferrari’s racing car company is in trouble.

“The Boys in the Boat,”

PG-13: George Clooney directs Joel Edgerton, Callum Turner, James Wolk, Wil Coban, Tom Varey, Sam Strike, Thomas Elms, Luke Slattery, Bruce Herbelin-Earle, Hadley Robinson and Courtney Henggeler in the Biography, Drama, Sport. Based on a true story, in the 1930s, a University of Washington rowing team wins gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Movie opening date from Internet Movie Database as of Dec. 17 is subject to change.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes