The Wizard (1989)

A boy and his brother run away from home and hitch cross country with the help of a girl they meet to compete in the ultimate video game championship.

Director:

Todd Holland

Writer:

David Chisholm

Stars:

Luke Edwards, Vince Trankina, Fred Savage

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Luke Edwards	...	Jimmy Woods / The Wizard
Vince Trankina	...	Tate (as Vincent Leahr)
Wendy Phillips	...	Christine Bateman
Dea McAllister	...	Councelor
Sam McMurray	...	Bateman
Beau Bridges	...	Sam Woods
Fred Savage	...	Corey Woods
Christian Slater	...	Nick Woods
Will Seltzer	...	Putnam
Roy Conrad	...	Bus Clerk
Jenny Lewis	...	Haley
Roderick Dexter	...	Trucker #1 / Wrecking Yard Man
Ray Bickel	...	Trucker #2
Chuck Skinner	...	Grease Monkey
W.K. Cowan	...	Salesman #1

Storyline

Corey and Jimmy Woods are two brothers who are being separated due to their parents divorcing. Jimmy is a mentally unstable kid that has had problems ever since his sister died at a young age. One day, Corey discovers that Jimmy has a natural talent for playing video games. He is one of the best around, and the two journey to the West Coast to compete in a video game championship, but along the way, they must avoid the adults, who are trying to take Jimmy away.

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Plot Keywords:

championship | cross country | boy | girl | gambling | 

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Taglines:

They're on a cross-country adventure to the world's greatest video championship. It's more than a game...it's the chance of a lifetime.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 December 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

A varázsló

Filming Locations:

Cabazon, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$14,278,900 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Finnegan/Pinchuk Productions, Pipeline Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marked the first public unveiling of EAD's then-anticipated (but still popular) Super Mario Bros. 3.

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Goofs

During the scene inside the dinosaur at the end of the movie, Corey takes a picture from Jimmy. The camera cuts to their family and then back to them. Corey takes the photo from Jimmy a second time.

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Quotes

Nick: You eat the casserole.

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Connections

Featured in Bad Movie Beatdown: BMB Spoony Experiment: Tekken (2011)

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Soundtracks

" (You've Got It) The Right Stuff"
by The New Kids On The Block

User Reviews

Lucas Barton, American Anti-Hero

This movie explores the depths of human emotions. It incorporates dramatic struggles ranging from a family being ripped apart because of a divorce (all too common in this work-a-day society), and a complex friendship being stretched to the limit because of the legendary California Videogame Championship. Corey and Jimmy are half-brothers. Jimmy has a dead twin sister. Mom has a new boyfriend. Dad owns a landscaping business. Throw in Christian Slater as a bad-ass older brother, a love triangle with three 13 year olds, the power-glove, and the song "Send Me and Angel" by Real Life and you have 1 intense peice of cinema. Watch out for cameos by the black dude from Batteries Not Included*, a guy with the same voice as Dicky Barrett, and Las Vegas. I've seen this movie over 3 times, and I still get chills when Corey and Jimmy have to sleep in Goblin Valley. Damn.