Wish Dragon
netflixComing as Chris Appelhans' feature directorial debut and finally releasing after months of delay, Wish Dragon is the newest animated feature to release on Netflix, serving as a reimagining of the ever-popular Aladdin story bringing it back to its original Chinese roots. Following a young man named Din (Jimmy Wong) who meets a magical Wish Dragon named Long (John Cho) who must grant Din three wishes before he can move on to the spirit world, Wish Dragon might not be the most original or surprising film but feels successful enough with its likable characters and personable world.
If there is one thing that will suck audiences into Wish Dragon it is the various characters and environments in which the film explores. Finding a perfect balance between authenticity and exaggerated animated humor, the world of Wish Dragon feels alive and as if it carries its own personality. From noisy neighbors hanging onto every word of an argument between Din and his mother (Constance Wu) to the neon billboards that illuminate the night sky, it is easy to feel a connection to the world of Wish Dragon which allows a deeper connection to the film's characters to develop.
On paper, the various protagonists of Wish Dragon feel rather simple. Din is a hard-working college student who wants to reconnect with an old friend, Long wants to grant Din's wishes and move on from his work on earth, Din's mother wants Din to succeed in life, and Din's old friend Lina (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) wants to feel a connection to her father and find true happiness in life. On paper, each of these motivations feels basic and where ultimately the plot of Wish Dragon is rather basic, it never feels overly boring or dumb. Mainly due to a strong combination of screenplay and performance, each of these characters feels incredibly likable and personable making the time the audience spends with them feel worthwhile and fun. Naturally, the audience will want to see each of these characters truly accomplish their dreams and the films gives them enough layers to at least be interesting on a basic level.
It also does help that the comedy in Wish Dragon is rather strong. Though undeniably turned down from some other Netflix animated projects such as The Mitchells vs. the Machines, the humor within Wish Dragon feels crafted and effective enough to get the occasional chuckle even if it is very rare for the film to have one laughing out loud too hard. The other major positive for the film would be the animation. Whilst nothing breakthrough, the animation throughout Wish Dragon is rather solid and carries a skillful sense of coloring and shot composition. The design of Long as a furry dragon is absolutely adorable while the overall world also feels well-developed on a visual level.
Wish Dragon ultimately might not be the next animated masterpiece, but being widely available on Netflix the film remains a largely inoffensive animated feature that is enjoyable for what it is. There is a lovely sense of authenticity to the world and characters that make Wish Dragon up and especially for those with children, this is an easy recommendation to fill an afternoon and will provide enough entertainment to create a watchable experience for all ages.
