SECRET OF THE WINGS
(G)
MOVIE: *** (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: ***(out of 5)
STARRING
Mae Whitman as TINKER BELL
Lucy Hale as PERIWINKLE
Lucy Liu as SILVERMIST
Angela Bartys as FAWN
Raven-Symone as IRIDESSA
Megan Hilty as ROSETTA
Anjelica Huston as QUEEN CLARION
Timothy Dalton as LORD MILORI
Studio: Disney
Directed by: Peggy Holmes & Bobs Gannaway
BY KEVIN CARR
I’m a guy, and I have kids but they are all boys. So, when it comes to movies for children, in particular the ones released by the Walt Disney Company, things are pretty cut-and-dried. The Mouse House has a long history of tailoring their films and television shows to one sex or the other. While boys and girls each can enjoy the Disney Channel programming across the board, it was clear that “Hannah Montana” was marketed to girls while “The Suite Life” was marketed to boys.
It gets even more specific with their direct-to-video properties, hitting the height of targeting when it comes to the Disney Princess push. However, a few years ago, Disney tempered their Disney Princess line with the Disney Fairies line. Sure, the fairies (a spin-off of the entire “Peter Pan” universe with Tinker Bell at the center) are still unapologetically targeted to a female audience, but they actually have some strong entertainment value for the boys in the home too.
I’ve really enjoyed the Disney Fairies films, which started with the first “Tinker Bell” movie back in 2008. Each year, Disney has dropped a different movie, and “The Secret of the Wings” is their latest one, released in 3D for those homes equipped with the proper equipment.
While not at the level of Pixar or even the theatrical arm of Disney that produces CGI movies like “Chicken Little,” “Meet the Robinson” and most recently “Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Secret of the Wings” is still an impressive adventure.
The story follows Tinker Bell as she learns more about Pixie Hollow. She helps bring some animals across a magical bridge to the winter fairies land. Eager to explore, she’s warned that if she crosses, her wings will freeze and die. Not to be stopped, Tinker Bell bundles up and returns to the bridge to explore the other side. There, she meets the winter fairies and discovers a secret about her own past.
“The Secret of the Wings” is a brisk adventure with a 75-minute running time. The animation is strong and colorful, which is fully in line with the depth of detail you’ll find in the other Tinker Bell films. The film also takes full advantage of its 3D environment, immersing the viewer into the world. With such a short running time, using the glasses in a home environment doesn’t wear on you, and kids shouldn’t get bored with the film.
The Disney Fairies films have always been in danger of overloading themselves with an ever-expanding cast of characters, but breaking off Tinker Bell to have a bit of her own story, the other fairies become supporting characters instead of a focus. This allows the film to become Tinker Bell’s own movie and actually expands her backstory.
Plus, with some extra comic relief moments with the male tinker fairies to help Tinker Bell out, boys in the audience won’t feel alienated (though it is clearly a movie made for the girls).
The 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack includes four discs: A Blu-ray, a DVD, a Digital Copy disc and a 3D Blu-ray. Special features include the “Pixie Hollow Game,” music videos for “Great Divide” by the McClain Sisters and “Dig Down Deeper” by Zendaya as well as the preview for the next film, “Fright Light.”