Ah, 1997. A time when cinematic magic felt like it could still genuinely surprise you, even if the results were... well, let's just say variable. Case in point: the fizzy, frantic, and frankly bizarre concoction that is A Simple Wish. Forget your Glinda the Good Witch or your twinkly Disney godmothers; this film dared to ask, "What if your fairy godmother was an incompetent, accident-prone dude named Murray?" It’s a premise that sounds like a fever dream scribbled on a napkin after too much sugar, and honestly, that’s not far off from the delightful chaos the movie delivers.
Murray the Malevolent... er, Benevolent?
At the heart of this whimsical whirlwind is eight-year-old Anabel Greening (Mara Wilson, fresh off enchanting us in Matilda), whose Broadway actor father, Oliver (Robert Pastorelli), is struggling after losing the lead role in a musical adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities. In a moment of desperation, Anabel makes a wish for help, expecting a traditional fairy godmother. Instead, she gets Murray (Martin Short), possibly the first and only graduate of the North American Brotherhood of Nature Associates (NABNA) fairy godmother training program. Murray is earnest, enthusiastic, and catastrophically inept. His wand malfunctions, his spells backfire spectacularly (turning Oliver into a solid bronze statue being a particularly sticky wicket), and he seems perpetually one clumsy step away from total disaster.
This central pairing is where the movie finds its quirky charm. Mara Wilson brings her signature intelligence and grounded presence, acting as the perfect foil – the exasperated but ultimately kind-hearted straight-woman to Martin Short's whirlwind of physical comedy and manic energy. Short throws himself into the role with gusto, flailing, mugging, and pratfalling his way through scene after scene. It's a performance that borders on exhausting but somehow remains endearing, capturing the well-meaning but utterly out-of-his-depth nature of Murray. You genuinely believe he wants to help, even as he accidentally turns a carriage driver into a giant rabbi—I mean, rabbit. Giant rabbit. Easy mistake.
Of Wands, Wickedness, and Weirdness
The plot, such as it is, involves Anabel and Murray trying to undo the statue spell before midnight, a quest complicated by the arrival of the malevolent former fairy godmother, Claudia (Kathleen Turner). Turner absolutely relishes playing the villain, chewing scenery with the glorious abandon she brought to roles like Serial Mom. Claudia, stripped of her powers and wand (which Murray now possesses, sort of), aims to reclaim her magic and establish a nefarious syndicate selling bad luck and misfortune, aided by her ditzy familiar, a dog-turned-human named Boots (Amanda Plummer). The scenes set within the bureaucratic, almost DMV-like headquarters of NABNA, presided over by the stern Hortense (Ruby Dee), add another layer of gentle satire to the proceedings.
Directed by Michael Ritchie, a filmmaker whose eclectic resume includes sharp comedies like Fletch and sports classics like The Bad News Bears, A Simple Wish feels like an odd fit, yet somehow it works in its own peculiar way. Ritchie keeps the pace zipping along, embracing the absurdity rather than trying to ground it too much. The film leans heavily on its visual gags and effects, a mix of late-90s practical work and burgeoning CGI that, viewed today, possesses a certain quaint, handmade charm. Some effects land better than others – the transformation sequences are goofy fun, while some of the green-screen work feels distinctly of its time.
Retro Fun Facts
- Box Office Magic (or Lack Thereof): Despite its charming leads and family-friendly premise, A Simple Wish didn't exactly conjure up box office gold. Made on a reported budget of around $25-28 million (sources vary slightly), it only managed to pull in about $8.4 million domestically. It found a second life on VHS and cable, becoming one of those films many kids stumbled upon and developed a soft spot for.
- Short's Physicality: Martin Short, a master of physical comedy honed on SCTV and Saturday Night Live, performed many of his own stunts and falls, adding a layer of genuine, slightly dangerous energy to Murray's clumsiness. His commitment is undeniable, even when the script occasionally falters.
- Post-Matilda Glow: This was one of Mara Wilson's first major roles after the beloved Matilda. While A Simple Wish didn't achieve the same classic status, her performance solidified her place as one of the most natural and engaging child actors of the decade. She later stepped away from acting for many years, making her 90s roles feel even more like captured moments in time.
- Ritchie's Swan Song (Almost): Sadly, this was one of the final theatrical releases for director Michael Ritchie before his passing in 2001. While perhaps not the capstone one might expect given his earlier successes, it reflects his willingness to tackle different genres throughout his career.
A Quirky Charm That Endures?
Watching A Simple Wish today is like unearthing a slightly dusty, glitter-covered cassette from the back of the video store shelf. It’s undeniably silly, the plot is thinner than fairy wings, and the humour occasionally veers into the outright bizarre. Yet, there's an infectious energy to it, largely thanks to Short and Wilson's chemistry and Kathleen Turner’s vampy villainy. It doesn't possess the timeless quality of some other 90s family fantasy films, often feeling like a collection of comedic set-pieces rather than a fully cohesive story. The central quest – saving Dad – gets frequently sidetracked by Murray’s magical mishaps and Claudia’s schemes.
However, it captures a specific flavour of 90s family entertainment – earnest, slightly chaotic, and not afraid to be weird. The concept of a male fairy godmother union is inherently funny, and the film mines that premise for some decent laughs. It’s a movie built on charm rather than perfection, relying on the likability of its cast to smooth over the rough patches.
VHS Heaven Rating: 6/10
Justification: A Simple Wish earns a 6 primarily on the strength of its performances and unique premise. Martin Short is a comedic dynamo, Mara Wilson is reliably charming, and Kathleen Turner is a blast as the villain. The core concept of a bumbling male fairy godmother provides several genuinely funny moments and a distinct identity. However, the film is held back by an uneven tone, a somewhat flimsy plot that often feels secondary to the gags, and visual effects that haven't aged gracefully. It's enjoyable and has nostalgic appeal, particularly for those who caught it on VHS, but it lacks the tighter storytelling and lasting magic of top-tier family fantasy, keeping it firmly in the "fondly remembered oddity" category rather than "undisputed classic."
It might not be the most sophisticated wish fulfilment fantasy ever put to film, but sometimes, a dose of pure, unadulterated 90s silliness, complete with a disastrously charming fairy godfather, is exactly what you need. It’s a simple pleasure, if not quite a simple wish granted perfectly.