Spellbound Review | Worse Than Wish

If you did not like Disney’s Wish, you’re not ready for how Spellbound is so much worse. In this review, I’ll be looking into disgraced producer John Lasseter’s latest movie where he tries to make his own Disney movie, but even with a talented animation team and the music of Alan Menken, there’s nothing that can save Spellbound from the curse of being a disjointed Disney rip-off.
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#Spellbound #Netflix #MovieReview

[ElectricDragon]

I heard some people say that Spellbound is an allegory of parents getting a divorce through the perspective of a kid. And to be honest, the more I think about it, the more it makes the movie look even worse.

First off, the way it’s handled it still terribly messy where they only make it clear about it at the very end, making it feel sudden and doesn’t give the viewer the time to register the message before the credits roll. Not to mention how it doesn’t change my criticism on how the film promotes toxic positivity with the way it shows how all conflicts makes you turn into a monster. It feels uncomfortably weird how Ellian concludes the movie with “My problems are solved now that my parents are divorced!” That and it makes Ellian look like a spoiled selfish brat where the movie makes it progressively clear that she wants her parents back for her own royal life back than for her parents’ own well-being.

Also, making a movie, especially an animated family film, discussing about divorce is both challenging and delicate in order to get it right. I’d love to see one take on the subject, but Spellbound is a terrible example of this. And the worst thing about it is that not all divorces end with the two people still cool with each other, even when they had a kid prior. Imagine how much Spellbound is such a giant middle finger to the kid watching the end seeing Ellian’s parents separated, but still working together to take care of her, while in their reality, their parents can’t stand being in the same room and would never team up again to be there for them. That just says to them that divorced parents who can set aside their differences for their child is just a Disney-style fairy tale that only exist in movies like Spellbound.

Congratulations, you found an extra reason why Spellbound is a terrible movie. Disney may not be in the best shape creatively, but they’re still making better Disney movies than Skydance.

[xxTC-xx]

honestly if you want a movie that emulates classic disney with former disney talent involved, go watch Over the Moon

[audjusushi]

This is a better movie than Wish by virtue of the fact that it actually has a moral.
There is no point to Wish.

[DaveysWonderfulWorld]

Worse than wish now that’s a bold claim

[claytonrios]

I will say though the films message of divorce sometimes benefitting the kids and parents involved is a decent enough message that Ms. Doubtfire also handled well.

[aptrst]

As a parent of three kids (ages 5-9) - the actual target audience for this movie - I wanted to share their genuine reactions. They absolutely loved it! The humour landed perfectly, the visuals captivated them, and even my 5-year-old could follow the story easily (unlike Wicked, which was too long and complex for that age).

What really struck me was that they spontaneously declared it better than Wish and asked to watch it again - something they've never done with Wish. They excitedly spotted connections to other animated films like Onward and Raya. While they noticed its Disney-like qualities, they saw this as comforting rather than derivative.

Most importantly, they weren't concerned with the criticisms raised in this video - the studio behind it, adult-oriented humour, or industry politics. For them, it was simply a thoroughly enjoyable movie that hit all the right notes for its intended audience.

[Strike-nzgy]

So let me get this straight, Netflix is keeping Alex “Gravity Falls” Hirsch’s new project in production hell, and yet they think this film and its studio!
Are a priority?!
I swear these companies run on idiot pills 🙄.

[tanandalynch]

The movie was trying to go for a "divorce os better for bad marriages than staying together" angle but executed it rather poorly.

It should have shown the parents constantly fighting and arguing prior to becoming monsters and then went into the constant fighting during that time they were beasts as well. It would better sell the angle because then we'd know the marriage was falling apart well before the monster transformation

[OwlEye]

Between this and the upcoming Snow White remake, I think Zegler needs to find a new agent ASAP.

[DanielGuzman-mmti]

I wonder if Alex Hirsch and Dana Terrace Combined are both more creatively talented than John Lassiter is today?

[CaptainCat]

The trailer is one of the biggest "ego-strokes" ever

[igfrcd]

So netflix cancelled Ember from the creators of oscar nominated Klaus but were onboard with this mess... great

[andmos]

Frankly comparing this movie to Disney is an insult to the creators of this movie. There are very few comparisons. This is a movie that explains how divorce proceedings happens and how it is seen through kid eyes. And for the record: divorce ends bad marriages.

[jamesgeorgi]

20:49 fun fact: Wicked and Spellbound got released on the same day. And yes, they do both have a familiar Disney song writer. Alan Menken for Spellbound and Stephen Schwartz for Wicked

[chrisguara]

Inside Out 2 9/10
The Wild Robot 9/10
Orion and the Dark 8/10
Piece by Piece 8/10
Transformers One 8/10
Despicable Me 4 7/10
Ultraman: Rising 7/10
Kung Fu Panda 4 6/10
The Garfield Movie 5/10
The Tiger’s Apprentice 5/10
Spellbound 4.5/10
Thelma the Unicorn 4/10
Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie 3/10

Was there any doubt this movie would suck?

The problem with the movie already starts with the marketing. Yes I understand John Lasseter is an iconic animator and did make many iconic animated movies when he was at Pixar. But...do they REALLY need to go overboard by saying he made this, and that, or and that movie as well? This feels they are WAY TOO DESPERATE to make John Lasseter, and himself, to be back on the world map of animation, and you guys know that is NEVER a good sign.

[BlueGuy]

Skydance Animation is basically just "We have Disney and Pixar at home"

[SortaNonymous]

John Lasseter post-Disney: "I'll make my own Disney movies... with blackjack... and hookers!"

[DjVicaguaDrives]

2:16 Why did they market Cars 2 in the trailer out of all the Cars movies he did why the second/worst one

[scarofherobrine]

It sucks that, most of the time, the people with the worst ideas claw their way into places of power to make those ideas come true. What I wouldn't give for a chance to bring one of my own stories to life - and I know of MANY others who crave the same.
Why are the seats of power in creative fields almost always wasted and crushed?

[greshaminc]

Honestly, wish is a overhated movie, and I think Spellbound really shows why. Skydance is just hopeless at this point. It’s just there just to be a great value Disney with a sexual predator in charge. I would even say this is worse than Cars 2. If Skydance wants to improve, than David Elision needs to let go of Lasseter