I've loved "A Simple Wish" since first watching it as a kid in the 90s, and even 25 years later, I continue to find it just as funny, inventive, and entertaining as ever. For anyone who's ever wanted a fairy godmother or believed in the magic of a wish, "A Simple Wish" hearkens back to the best of the classic fairy tales but with an imaginative twist for the 20th (and 21st) centuries.
In a nutshell, the story concerns Anabel (Mara Wilson), who wishes for a fairy godmother to help her father Oliver (Robert Pastorelli) land an audition for a new Broadway musical at the Palace Theatre in New York City. But as she soon learns from her well-meaning but comically inept fairy godfather Murray (Martin Short), wishes are anything but simple, not all fairy godmothers have good intentions, and magic can come from even the most unlikely of places.
While "A Simple Wish" has plenty of slapstick humor and action for kids to enjoy, mostly courtesy of the incomparable Martin Short, it steers clear of the wildly inappropriate 'humor' that so many supposed family films feature nowadays. In the tradition of the best Disney films, the script neither talks down to nor panders to children, with enough wit to make it an enjoyable watch for those of us who are rather children at heart (i.e., adults) as well. Take, for example, the conceit of the original in-movie musical "Two Cities," based on Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities," with wonderful songs composed by Lucy Simon (sister of Carly Simon) and lyrics by "A Simple Wish" director Michael Ritchie. Composed in the film by Lord Richard (a thinly-veiled spoof of Andrew Lloyd Webber), it takes off on the explosion in the 80s of the British mega-musicals based on works of classic and perhaps overly-dramatic literature, making it a nice little in-joke for Broadway buffs and fans of literature alike.
I've never quite understood why this film wasn't more of a hit, as it truly has everything: a fun yet moving script, an inventive story that turns the traditional fairy-tale tropes on its head, an all-star cast, great acting performances, a gorgeous musical score, excellent production design, and fabulous location shoot in New York City. If you love Martin Short and Mara Wilson as I do, you're virtually guaranteed to love this film. If you like movies that subvert the traditional fairytale genre while still staying family-friendly, you're probably going to like it, too.
In a nutshell, the story concerns Anabel (Mara Wilson), who wishes for a fairy godmother to help her father Oliver (Robert Pastorelli) land an audition for a new Broadway musical at the Palace Theatre in New York City. But as she soon learns from her well-meaning but comically inept fairy godfather Murray (Martin Short), wishes are anything but simple, not all fairy godmothers have good intentions, and magic can come from even the most unlikely of places.
While "A Simple Wish" has plenty of slapstick humor and action for kids to enjoy, mostly courtesy of the incomparable Martin Short, it steers clear of the wildly inappropriate 'humor' that so many supposed family films feature nowadays. In the tradition of the best Disney films, the script neither talks down to nor panders to children, with enough wit to make it an enjoyable watch for those of us who are rather children at heart (i.e., adults) as well. Take, for example, the conceit of the original in-movie musical "Two Cities," based on Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities," with wonderful songs composed by Lucy Simon (sister of Carly Simon) and lyrics by "A Simple Wish" director Michael Ritchie. Composed in the film by Lord Richard (a thinly-veiled spoof of Andrew Lloyd Webber), it takes off on the explosion in the 80s of the British mega-musicals based on works of classic and perhaps overly-dramatic literature, making it a nice little in-joke for Broadway buffs and fans of literature alike.
I've never quite understood why this film wasn't more of a hit, as it truly has everything: a fun yet moving script, an inventive story that turns the traditional fairy-tale tropes on its head, an all-star cast, great acting performances, a gorgeous musical score, excellent production design, and fabulous location shoot in New York City. If you love Martin Short and Mara Wilson as I do, you're virtually guaranteed to love this film. If you like movies that subvert the traditional fairytale genre while still staying family-friendly, you're probably going to like it, too.