Magic in the Water (1995)

Director:

Rick Stevenson

Writers (WGA):

Rick Stevenson (screenplay) &
Icel Dobell Massey (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

30 August 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

In a small town, on a peaceful lake, a mythical creature is about to surface.

Plot:

Radio psychologist Jack Black takes his children Joshua and Ashley on a 'vacation' to a lake in British Columbia...

Plot Keywords:

Mythology | Expedition | Brother Sister Relationship | Underwater

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Mark Harmon	...	Jack Black
Joshua Jackson	...	Joshua Black
Harley Jane Kozak	...	Dr. Wanda Bell
Sarah Wayne	...	Ashley Black
Willie Nark-Orn	...	Hiro
Frank Salsedo	...	Uncle Kipper (as Frank Sotonoma Salsedo)
Morris Panych	...	Mack Miller
Ben Cardinal	...	Joe Pickled Trout
Adrien Dorval	...	Wright Hardy
Mark Acheson	...	Lefty Hardy
Anthony Towe	...	Taka
John Procaccino	...	Frank
Tom Cavanagh	...	Simon, Patient #1
Gareth Bennett	...	Christian, Patient #2
Garrett Bennett	...	Christian, Patient #2 (as Gareth Bennett)

Also Known As:

Glenorky
Le lac magique (Canada: French title) (TV title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and moments of peril.

Runtime:

98 min | USA:101 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English | Dutch

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:G | Spain:T | UK:PG (video premiere) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Oxford Film Company

Trivia:

Early in the movie Ashley is wearing an over-sized powderkegblue (UCLA) football jersey #7. Mark Harmon was the starting UCLA Quarterback - he wore #7.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Uncle Kipper is showing Joshua and Ashley the totem pole, the camera is pointed down on the characters. As the camera pans lower, a crew member's foot is visible at the bottom of the screen.

Quotes:

Joshua: Isn't it time we did that father-son bonding thing or somethin'?

All you need to know is that the creature's name is Orky. Orky *snicker*

You know, I can't always pinpoint in a bad movie the precise moment that it loses me but there was in the case of `Magic in the Water'. The scene has a little girl named Ashley who is positive that a Loc Ness-type creature lives in the lake leaves some Oreo cookies on the edge of the dock. Upon her return she discovers that the white stuff has been licked out and the rest of the cookie remain, dry as a bone. I didn't get up and leave the movie but I did suddenly have an urge to go to the can.

There are half a dozen moments like that in `Magic in the Water' an inexplicable E.T. wannabe that follows every family movie cliché like they were the sacred laws of the land. The story involves a dad who is constantly attached to his cell phone and his two kids Joshua and Ashley who move to the lake where a fabled creature named Orky is said to be living. Yes his named is Orky and when your laughter has subsided you may read further.

All the standard characters are here: The busy non-believing dad (Mark Harmon), the wise old man in this case and Indian named Ben; the meanies who want to use Okry's (Orky *snicker*) lake as a chemical waste dump.

`Magic in the Water' is the bi-product of two better movies: `E.T.' and `Free Willy' which this movie steals from at will and rather shamelessly. Oh and the Oreo Cookie company of course.

*snicker* Orky

Rating: * (of four)