A Simple Wish
A Simple Wish

A Simple Wish

1997Movie89 minEnglish

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.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes24%
Metacritic43/100
Google Users55%
Director: Michael RitchieGenres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Plot Summary

A young girl, Annabel, makes a wish on a star to become a fairy godmother and help her father win back his job. However, her wish is granted by a clumsy, incompetent fairy godfather named Murray, who struggles to grant her wishes correctly. As Murray tries to fix his mistakes, he and Annabel embark on a chaotic adventure, inadvertently causing more problems than they solve.

Critical Reception

A Simple Wish was poorly received by critics and audiences alike, who found its plot convoluted and its humor lacking. The film struggled to find its audience and is often cited as a critical and commercial disappointment.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film's premise is charming but ultimately fails to deliver due to a weak script and uninspired performances.
  • Martin Short's comedic efforts are largely wasted on a predictable and unfocused narrative.
  • Despite a few whimsical moments, the movie lacks the magic and coherence needed to engage its target audience.

Google audience: Audiences found the movie to be a bit silly and not as funny as expected. While some appreciated the effort from the cast, many felt the story was too nonsensical and didn't live up to its potential, leading to a generally lukewarm reception.

Fun Fact

During the film's production, the role of Annabel Grewe was originally intended for child star Macaulay Culkin, but he dropped out and was replaced by Mara Wilson.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review