A Simple Wish

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A Simple Wish

PG

Released Jul 11, 1997

1h 29m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

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20%

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20 Reviews

45%

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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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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

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Quentin Curtis

Daily Telegraph (UK)

A Simple Wish fails to make good its winning premise.

Sep 22, 2025

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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

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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

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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

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steve d

Only the kids will like it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

The greatest 01 hour: and 29 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

Funniest Mara Wilson movie ever, for all ages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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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

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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

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Michael Ritchie

Director

Martin Short

Murray

Mara Wilson

Anabel Greening

Robert Pastorelli

Oliver Greening

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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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