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

Claudia: Everything is fine. No, nothing is wrong. Hortense... is flat.

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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

Featured in The Nostalgia Critic: The Top 11 Best Nostalgia Critic Moments (2012)

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Soundtracks

"The Best of Times"
Music by Lucy Simon
Lyrics by Michael Ritchie
Performed by Peter Samuels

User Reviews

A Fun And Smart Kids Movie!

> This is a very good kids movie, that is fun and entertaining. Martin Short makes a hilarious Fairy Godmother, or should I say "Fairy Godfather" to Mara Wilson, who only wants her dad to be in a broadway show, but gets mixed up and must stop an evil witch played by Kathleen Turner, or her dad will become a statue! This movie was smart and fun, and the "frog in your throat" scene was gross-out funny! I give it 10/10.