Wish Upon a Star (1996)

A younger sister wishes to switch places with her popular older sister and the two bickering siblings awaken to find the wish has come true.

Director:

Blair Treu

Writer:

Jessica Barondes

Stars:

Katherine Heigl, Danielle Harris, Donnie Jeffcoat

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Katherine Heigl	...	Alexia Wheaton
Danielle Harris	...	Hayley Wheaton
Donnie Jeffcoat	...	Kyle Harding
Scott Wilkinson	...	Ben Wheaton
Mary Parker Williams	...	Nan Wheaton
Lois Chiles	...	Mittermonster
Ivey Lloyd	...	Caitlin Sheinbaum
Matthew Barker	...	Simon (as Matt Barker)
Jacque Gray	...	Kazumi
Kari White	...	Talley (as Kari Petersen)
January Sorensen	...	Sabrina
Dane Stevens	...	Mr. Frauenfleder (as Duane V. Stephens)
Mark Hofeling	...	Mr. Watson
Trevor Black	...	Photographer
Emily Klindt	...	Senior Class President

Storyline

Handsome, considerate high-school jock Kyle Harding is the only taste the Wheaton sisters share. Tall, fashionable, popular airhead big sister is dating him, but fails to truly appreciate the young gentleman, let alone contemplate a serious relationship. Nerdy kid sister Haley hates the waste and expresses her envy by thoughtlessly wishing at a 'shooting star' (comet) to be Alexia. To their stupor, that happens the next morning. Forced to live each-other's lives, but unable to do it well by the other's standards, the sisters soon hate each-other even more and deliberately screw up. Gradually, they realize they would only both lose out, learn to appreciate the other's values and reconsider their own. Remain the matters of obviously utterly confused Kyle, and new neighbor boy Simon, whose no longer secret crush on Haley was confounded by Alexia.

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Plot Keywords:

comet | airhead | shooting star | wish | tall | 

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Taglines:

I Wish I May, I Wish I Might, Become My Sister For A Night!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and mild sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wish Upon a Star

Filming Locations:

Hunter High School, 4200 S 5600 W, West Valley City, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Leucadia Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Danielle Harris was hired three days before shooting began, on the spot at her audition.

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Goofs

When Alexia answers the Chemistry question in class, she writes "ABC" on the whiteboard. In the next shot as she continues writing, the appearance of "ABC" is completely different.

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Quotes

Caitlin Sheinbaum: I never said an open party, my parents will slaughter me.
Sabrina: Well it's a small price to pay when you consider what it'll do for your social life.
Alexia Wheaton: Caitlin didn't you say you neeeded to talk to Hayley?
Hayley Wheaton: Yeah, Caitlin can I talk to you for a minute?
Alexia Wheaton: Let me get this straight, she invited you for dinner and you proceeded to include the rest of the student body?
Sabrina: Pretty crafty, huh?
Alexia Wheaton: What makes you think you can treat people like this?
Talley: We learned it from you. Remember our motto, "Act Superior, our number ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

The following scenes were removed for pacing reasons:

• The guys to whom Alex says "hi guys" in the gym had bigger roles. They originally followed Alex around a lot, and this frazzled Hayley's nerves when she was in Alex's body.
• A scene where Hayley practices her speech for the convention in front of Alex, which illustrates Hayley's nervous demeanor about public speaking, and Alex's discomfort with her lack of math skills.
• Numerous shots of the parents eavesdropping, seeing how their daughters' "progress" was coming along.
• A scene near the end where "Mittermonster" pads down a number of beauty contestants before they enter the stage.

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Soundtracks

On Mighty Wolverines
Written by Craig E. Ferrin
Performed by Hunter High School Band

User Reviews

Be careful what you wish for...

Be careful what you wish for; it just might come true. And in this movie it all does. A wonderfully entertaining movie and not just for kids. I first saw this movie when I was 18 and have loved it ever since. Not just a story about what it's like to wish you were someone else and find that once it comes true it's not all it's cracked up to be. It's also a tale about two sisters who learn not just about themselves but also about each other. For anyone who has a sibling they feel they can't relate to, this movie is a wonderful chance to see that it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. And while there are moments in the film where it seems hard to remember who's in which body or you realize that that person is not necessarily the one who needed to learn that particular lesson, the film's overall message is touching enough and so masterfully delivered that it hardly matters. And though the twist ending may not be a surprise to all, it still gets me every time. Katherine Heigl and Danielle Harris shine like stars. I just wish everyone enjoys the film as much as I did.