A Simple Wish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids A Simple Wish |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Michael Ritchie |
| Produced by | Sid Sheinberg Jon Sheinberg Bill Sheinberg |
| Written by | Jeff Rothberg |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Bruce Broughton |
| Cinematography | Ralf D. Bode |
| Editing by | William S. Scharf |
| Studio | The Bubble Factory |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 11, 1997 |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $28 million |
| Money made | $8,345,056 |
A Simple Wish (also known as The Fairy Godmother) is a fun fantasy film from 1997. It's a comedy film made for kids and families. The movie was directed by Michael Ritchie. It stars Martin Short, Mara Wilson, and Kathleen Turner.
The story is about a clumsy male fairy godmother named Murray. He tries to help a girl named Annabel. Annabel wishes her dad, who drives a horse carriage, could get a big role. She wants him to star in a Broadway musical. This was the last movie directed by Michael Ritchie before he passed away in 2001.
Contents
What the Movie is About
Oliver's Dream and Annabel's Wish
Oliver Greening (Robert Pastorelli) drives a horse carriage in New York. He dreams of becoming a Broadway performer. He tries out for a musical called A Tale of Two Cities. Oliver does a great audition. But he loses the part to Tony Sable (Alan Campbell). Tony is more famous, so he gets the role.
Later that night, Oliver's young daughter, Annabel (Mara Wilson), is upset. She tries to convince her older brother, Charlie (Francis Capra), that fairy godmothers are real. After they fall asleep, Annabel wakes up. She finds Murray (Martin Short), a male fairy godmother, in her room! He offers her one wish. Annabel wishes for her dad to get a role in the play.
The Fairy Godmothers' Meeting
Hortence (Ruby Dee) is the leader of all fairy godmothers. She holds the yearly meeting for the North American Fairy Godmothers Association (NAFGA). All fairy godmothers must check in their magic wands. This is a rule before the meeting starts.
Claudia (Kathleen Turner) is a former fairy godmother. She turned into an evil witch. Claudia shows up at the meeting without an invitation. She plans to steal all the wands. First, she gives Hortence's helper, Rena (Teri Garr), a special apple. It puts Rena to sleep. Then, Claudia casts a spell on Hortence. It turns Hortence paper-thin and stops her from speaking. Claudia also locks all the other fairy godmothers downstairs. She then goes to steal their wands.
But Murray arrives late to the meeting. He never checks in his wand. This means his wand is the only one Claudia doesn't have.
Murray's Mishaps
Annabel soon realizes Murray left his magic wand behind. She decides to give it back to him. But Charlie accidentally breaks the wand. Murray tries to use a spell to leave quickly. He and Annabel disappear to Nebraska by mistake!
There, Murray tries to turn a selfish motel owner into a rabbit. Instead, he turns him into a giant rabbi. After this, Murray and Annabel end up back in Central Park. Because Annabel disappeared, her school closes early. Charlie finds them there.
Annabel asks Murray to grant her wish for her dad. But Murray has another accident. He turns Oliver into a statue! To fix this, the three of them go to NAFGA. They ask Hortence for help. Hortence is still under Claudia's spell.
Murray, Charlie, and Rena (who woke up) work to fix Murray's wand. Hortence tells Annabel about Claudia's plan. She explains that the statue spell must be lifted before midnight. Otherwise, Oliver will stay a statue forever. Meanwhile, Claudia is looking for her wand. She realizes it's missing and Murray has it. She is determined to get it back.
Stopping Claudia
Annabel and Murray go to the theater. They see Tony Sable, the selfish actor. He is trying out for Oliver's part again. Annabel knows this could ruin her dad's chance. She asks Murray to mess up Tony's audition.
First, Murray tries to make it rain on the stage. But it's just seen as a technical problem. The audition continues. Then, Annabel asks him to give Tony a frog in his throat. Murray takes this too literally. Frogs start hopping out of Tony's mouth! Everyone is shocked. Annabel and Murray celebrate. But Tony still gets the part because Oliver hasn't shown up.
Boots (Amanda Plummer) is Claudia's dog-turned-helper. She has been looking for Murray. Boots finds them. Murray tells Annabel the story of Br'er Rabbit. They pretend not to want to go to Claudia's lair. This trick makes Boots take them there.
Claudia confronts them. She demands to know where her wand is. Murray tries to stop Annabel from telling. As punishment, Claudia changes Annabel and Murray into ballerinas. She makes them dance without stopping. They have to dance until one of them tells her.
But Annabel keeps Claudia busy. This gives Charlie time to pass Murray's wand to him. Murray then convinces Boots to give him the wand. Claudia tries to attack him. But Murray tricks her into firing a spell. The spell pulls her into a mirror. The mirror then shatters, trapping Claudia.
A Wish Granted
Murray, Charlie, and Annabel return to Central Park. They turn Oliver back to normal just in time! Oliver gets the part of Tony Sable's understudy. A producer liked his first audition.
To finally grant Annabel's wish, Murray appears backstage. He makes Tony Sable slip on a bucket and twist his ankle. Tony throws a fit and gets fired. Oliver, as the understudy, gets to perform instead! Charlie and Annabel watch the show. Murray and the other fairy godmothers are there too. Hortence is now free from Claudia's spell.
Cast
- Martin Short as Murray
- Mara Wilson as Annabel Greening
- Robert Pastorelli as Oliver Greening
- Francis Capra as Charlie Greening
- Kathleen Turner as Claudia
- Amanda Plummer as Boots
- Ruby Dee as Hortence: The Head Of The Fairy Godmothers
- Teri Garr as Rena
- Jonathan Hadary as Lord Richard
- Deborah Odell as Jeri
- Alan Campbell as Tony Sable
- Jack McGee as Officer York
See also
In Spanish: A Simple Wish para niños
