Wish Dragon Review Roundup

There is no question that Sony Pictures Animation is on a roll these 2 years after copping two Oscar wins (for 2018’s feature Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and 2019’s short Hair Love). Not resting on their laurels, the studio was already hard at work on a new interesting project called Wish Dragon which sees them, partner, up with China’s Base Animation. With the famous Jackie Chan also having a hand in production, it was indeed a project that piques the curiosity, but does it live up to its potential? Or is it so bad we will be wishing it was never made? Here's the roundup: 

SCREEN RANT 
'The animation style of Wish Dragon is exciting as well, sharp, distinct, and colorful. The film doesn’t venture too far outside the box, but it does enough within its story to establish itself on its own merits. Applehans infuses the film with a lot of heart, humor, and adventurous fun without foregoing on its serious themes. While the film does take its time stepping out on its own and out of the shadows of Aladdin and its "tale as old as time" story (Long's own words), Wish Dragon is a heartwarming, charming film with a great message and lovely characters.' 

For the full review please visit here.

POLYGON
'Overall, Wish Dragon doesn’t go particular far beyond predictable parameters, but that isn’t necessarily bad. It can be enough to see what well-worn fairytale plot elements look like in an entirely new setting, one that gives them new resonance and relevance. Sure, the lowbrow gags and rote combat drags the film down, but in the moments where Appelhans breathes contemporary specifics into the story, Wish Dragon is a quirky, appealing ride.'

For the full review please visit here.

VARIETY
'What Appelhans and the makers of “Wish Dragon” couldn’t have known when they set out was that Disney had a kinda similar movie up its sleeve in “Raya and the Last Dragon.” Plus, Disney had Awkwafina on its side (she’s a lot funnier than Cho, who’s got personality but can’t do impressions or improv the way a comedian can). “Raya” also riffed on the “Aladdin” myth, which leaves this project feeling slightly less fresh, although there’s room enough for multiple dragon-themed/wish-granting fables in this world. So go with the one streaming on whatever service you patronize — at least until we all get our wish that such movies find their way back to the big screen.'

​For the full review please visit here.

CBR 
'Wish Dragon's biggest misstep might be that it fails to break the mold in a year that's already seen the release of a number of terrific animated films, a handful of which (like Appelhans' movie) are available to stream for a flat subscription fee. With other titles taking big swings in terms of their narrative choices and visual styles, Wish Dragon doesn't go far enough in the ways it tries to revamp an older story to give it newfound relevance and emotional resonance. But taken on its own terms, it's a mostly enjoyable spin on a familiar tale that has valuable lessons to impart, no matter how many times you've heard it before.'

For the full review please visit here.

AV CLUB
' Though the furry, hot pink Long doesn’t rank amongst our best animated dragons (he’s no match for Awkwafina’s Sisu in this year’s Raya And The Last Dragon), Din easily emerges as one of the most endearing protagonists in recent animation. He’s a character you can laugh at, but one you’re always rooting for, too. To quote the famous cut song from Aladdin, he’ll make you “proud of your boy,” even when the movie around him feels just a touch too familiar.'

For the full review please visit here.

CELL SPEX (VIDEO REVIEW)

In the end, the film amassed a critical score of 68% from 22 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. It seems ok but it seem to draw a direct comparison to Raya and the Last Dragon and Aladdin, whether it's fair or not, that hindered critics enjoyment of the film. This one absolutely screams 'watch and judge for yourself'. 

​-YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:

LUCA REVIEW ROUNDUP

SPIES IN DISGUISE REVIEW ROUNDUP

THE Willoughbys REVIEW ROUNDUP