5.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Murray is a male fairy godmother, and he is trying to help 8-year-old Anabel to fulfil her "simple wish" - that her father Oliver, who is a cab driver, would win the leading role in a Broadway musical. Unfortunately, Murray's magic wand is broken and the fairies convention is threatened by evil witches Claudia and Boots.
Starring: Martin Short, Mara Wilson, Robert Pastorelli, Francis Capra, Ruby Dee (I)Comedy | 100% |
Family | 74% |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
There’s a reason why Martin Short is largely considered to be a comedic genius. Through his television work on “SCTV” and “Primetime Glick,” supporting roles in films such as “The Big Picture,” “Father of the Bride,” and “Three Amigos,” Broadway productions, and numerous talk show appearances, Short has displayed a sharp wit, endless supply of energy, and a rascally spirit. However, translating that delightful impishness to starring roles has proven difficult for the actor, who’s been primarily stuck in unimaginative duds like “Pure Luck,” “Captain Ron,” and “Three Fugitives.” Outside of 1987’s “Innerspace” (a wonderful picture), Short hasn’t found his niche when it comes to toplining major movies. 1997’s “A Simple Wish” is another misfire for the funny man, although the premise provides more than a few opportunities for Short to shine. Instead, he appears handcuffed by the production, forced to work through habitual acts of physical comedy to compete with crude CGI and an aggressive cartoon vibe director Michael Ritchie (who passed away in 2001, making this his final feature) seems intent on selling as loudly as possible.
Once again, Universal recycles an ancient master for "A Simple Wish," with the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation looking decidedly flat and waxy for such a fantastical movie. Filtering is present, stripping filmic qualities while preventing accurate textures to shine through, while haloing and some mile motion blur is also common. Blacks are largely solidified, crushing out especially hard during evening sequences, making distances difficult to discern. Fine detail barely makes an impression with close-ups, with facial particulars smoothed out and costuming soft. Colors are tolerable, with hues looking a little muted, but benefiting from the candied hues presented here.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix shows surprising presence for a catalog title, offering pleasing circular force that envelops the listener. Surrounds are quite active, not only for crisp atmospherics and scenes of city bustle, but with Murray's magic as well, with his "shaboom!" provided directional movement, awakening the track. Low-end is also substantial, with magical rumblings and a runaway carriage scene adding depth. Dialogue exchanges are cleanly defined and placed, with nothing lost to distortion. Scoring cues are healthy, supporting the antics with a full sound. For an active movie, here's an active mix, with compelling swells of disparate elements keeping energy up for the listening experience.
There are a few flashes of personality in "A Simple Wish," with one accidental excursion to Nebraska (a state the screenplay openly detests) resulting in an encounter with a Godzilla-sized rabbi. Sadly, that's about it for the pleasingly weird stuff, as the rest of the picture sticks to the comfort of family film routine and CGI escapism. Not even Short can make "A Simple Wish" memorable, often looking as though he's merely surviving the work, stripped of his killer instinct.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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