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A Simple Wish

Play trailer Poster for A Simple Wish PG 1997 1h 29m Kids & Family Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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21% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 44% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Eight-year-old Annabel (Mara Wilson) is rooting for her father, Oliver (Robert Pastorelli), to get the lead part in a new musical, but he doesn't have the same name recognition as arrogant actor Tony Sable (Alan Campbell). When Murray (Martin Short), the first-ever male fairy godmother, is sent to help Annabel, he bungles the wish badly and turns her dad into a statue in Central Park. Meanwhile, evil Claudia (Kathleen Turner), long forbidden the use of magic due to her greed, plots revenge.
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A Simple Wish

Critics Reviews

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Richard Williams Guardian Creating Murray as a kind of sociopathic Ken Dodd might have seemed a good wheeze, but he is so authentically loathsome. Sep 22, 2025 Full Review Quentin Curtis Daily Telegraph (UK) A Simple Wish fails to make good its winning premise. Sep 22, 2025 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times A Simple Wish has assembled all the trinkets and effects necessary for its story, without bothering to tell one. Rated: 1.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Philip French Observer (UK) It is sad to see Michael Ritchie, who 25 years ago was widely regarded as one of Hollywood's most ambitious young directors, making such dull fare. Sep 22, 2025 Full Review Matthew Sweet Independent on Sunday If Martin Short appeared in my bedroom in the middle of the night, I'd jump on a chair and scream. Sep 22, 2025 Full Review Brian Orndorf Blu-ray.com Not even Short can make A Simple Wish memorable, often looking as though he's merely surviving the work, stripped of his killer instinct. Rated: D+ Mar 14, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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steve d Only the kids will like it. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The greatest 01 hour: and 29 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Funniest Mara Wilson movie ever, for all ages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member I loved this movie as a child. It's so sweet and heartfelt with a goofy main character that you can't help but love. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member It isn't as consistently entertaining as Matilda, has one of Mara Wilson's weaker performances (she was still dealing with her mother's unfortunate death at the time of filming) and just lacks the same whimsy as some other fantasy comedies though there are some good scenes with the father and daughter, enjoyable effects and occasional laughs even if it doesn't have enough charm to win over anyone over the age of 10. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Simple Wish

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Ritchie

Director

Martin Short

Murray

Mara Wilson

Anabel Greening

Robert Pastorelli

Oliver Greening

Amanda Plummer

Boots

Francis Capra

Charlie Greening

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A Simple Wish

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Movie Info

Synopsis Eight-year-old Annabel (Mara Wilson) is rooting for her father, Oliver (Robert Pastorelli), to get the lead part in a new musical, but he doesn't have the same name recognition as arrogant actor Tony Sable (Alan Campbell). When Murray (Martin Short), the first-ever male fairy godmother, is sent to help Annabel, he bungles the wish badly and turns her dad into a statue in Central Park. Meanwhile, evil Claudia (Kathleen Turner), long forbidden the use of magic due to her greed, plots revenge.
Director
Michael Ritchie
Producer
Bill Sheinberg, Jonathan Sheinberg, Sid Sheinberg
Screenwriter
Jeff Rothberg
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
The Bubble Factory, Universal Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Kids & Family, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 11, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 7, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.1M
Runtime
1h 29m
Sound Mix
DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.85:1)
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