A Simple Wish (1997)

Murray is a male fairy godmother, and he is trying to help 8-year-old Anabel to fulfil her "simple wish" - that her father Oliver, who is a cab driver, would win the leading role in a ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writer:

Jeff Rothberg

Stars:

Robert Pastorelli, Ruby Dee, Mara Wilson

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Pastorelli	...	Oliver
Ruby Dee	...	Hortense
Francis Capra	...	Charlie
Jonathan Hadary	...	Lord Richard
Deborah Odell	...	Jeri
Mara Wilson	...	Anabel
Amanda Plummer	...	Boots
Alan Campbell	...	Tony Sable
Kathleen Turner	...	Claudia
Lanny Flaherty	...	Duane
Teri Garr	...	Rena
Martin Short	...	Murray
Clare Coulter	...	Ms. Bramble
Neil Foster	...	Manny
Jaime Tirelli	...	Joe

Storyline

Murray is a male fairy godmother, and he is trying to help 8-year-old Anabel to fulfil her "simple wish" - that her father Oliver, who is a cab driver, would win the leading role in a Broadway musical. Unfortunately, Murray's magic wand is broken and the fairies convention is threatened by evil witches Claudia and Boots.

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Plot Keywords:

8 year old | male fairy godmother | magic | convention | wish | 

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Taglines:

Anabel made a wish. Murray made a mess

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Genres:

Family | Comedy | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 July 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bir dilek tut

Filming Locations:

Brooks, Alberta, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,732,880 (USA) (11 July 1997)

Gross:

$8,119,205 (USA) (22 August 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Bubble Factory, The, Sheinberg Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Murray: One wish per customer and no wishes for more wishes. They plugged that loophole up years ago. In past years there were abuses.

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Crazy Credits

After "The Bubble Factory" at the start of the film, tricks are played for the next 4 frames: 1) "Feivbrsel Puctorus and Thn Beabla Uictsry Present" quickly rearranges itself to read "The Bubble Factory and Universal Pictures Present"; 2} "A Sheinberg Production" is first shown with "Sheinberg" rotated 180°; 3) "A Michael Ritchie Film" is first shown with the letters squashed to the right with the bottom of each letter unmoved - they each quickly right themselves; 4) The title is first shown as "A Simqle Wish" - the "q" then spins around its vertical axis, ending up as a "p".

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Connections

References The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)

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Soundtracks

"Sabre Dance"
(1942)
Written by Aram Khachaturyan (as Aram Khachaturian)

User Reviews

It's only down side is... what?!?

I am sick and tired of people criticizing films just because they happen to be family movies, or G-rated, such as SCTV Fan did in the front page User Comments to this movie. I am well into my 50's, and just happen to enjoy well made family movies! This one is well made. I've seen others recently, such as Bicentennial Man, Dinosaur, My Favorite Martian, The Straight Story, Disney's Tarzan and Fantasia 2000. My simple wish is, hopefully, that this is a trend away from the profanity and gore that makes up 75% of today's films. These movie producers are making such movies because: 1: they are allowed to, 2: the public is gullible to buy tickets to see them, 3: they can't take the time to make an intelligent film with language the whole family can listen to and understand, and action that is within limits of decency.

My Simple Wish is not quite up to the quality of the movies I've listed above, but I thank the producers for making it, and thanks to IMDb for letting me have my soapbox.