Amazing Stories (TV Series) Magic Saturday (1986) User Reviews

Body swap

[sonnyschlaegel · 6/10 · 27 April 2007]

Marky spends his Saturdays with his grandpa. He loves to play baseball with grandpa and to listen to the stories of his travels to China. Grandpa says that he learned how to throw his special spin ball there and also a special Chinese magic formula. When he falls ill, Marky suggests they use the formula to swap bodies (temporarily) so that grandpa can play baseball the next Saturday. The formula works, but Marky gets upset when grandpa is away in his (Marky's) body, and he (Marky) feels that the body he is in (grandpa's) is getting weaker rapidly...

I guess the body-swap-idea has been used before, so this episode is probably not very original, but it's well done in my opinion. Grandpa's Chinese spin ball is funny, and there's some suspense when Marky (in grandpa's body) waits for his body (with grandpa inside) to return. I also liked M. Emmet Walsh as grandpa.

I think some other episodes are better (and more original) than this one, but I still liked it and I think it deserves six points.

Sentimental tale of magic blended with youth and old age!

[blanbrn · 7/10 · 28 March 2019]

This "AS" episode from season 2 called "Magic Saturday" is one of the more sentimental and touching one's for it's take on love and the need and feel for youth. Marky is a little boy who spends his Saturdays playing baseball with grandpa Norman(the great character actor M. Emmet Walsh). And love and fun is present until old age starts to catch up with Norman then it's on to a little magic a spell like potion that changes the roles and bodies of both as Marky gets to feel old age and Norman gets to feel some youth before it's all said and done. Overall good episode of love and feeling what life is like on the opposite side of each one's years.

Freaky Saturday!

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 25 May 2014]

These things don't do very well when the characters are so unbelievable that they don't pass muster. The grandpa and the grandson are almost caricatures. He is the crazy adventurous rapscallion and junior is a wimpy little guy who is always scared and has no friends. Because the old guy knows some black magic, they switch personalities. Grandpa becomes the suffering little boy, still keeping his own body; and the little boy, cigar clenched in his teeth, heads for the ball field. Of course, the kid is now going to do wondrous things. That was telegraphed back in the first few minutes. Once again, there is no real development of the relationship between the two so it dies on the vine. A weak entry.

It's been done many times before....

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 23 June 2015]

In the 1980s, there were tons of films where kids changed bodies with adults. So, seeing one here with "Amazing Stories" isn't surprising...though using such a clichéd idea is pretty sad. Instead of something original, they're just recycling a familiar idea.

The story is about Grandpa (M. Emmett Walsh) and his grandson, Mark. Both are inseparable though grandpa is getting up in years and his health is failing. So Mark suggests they use Grandpa's magic talisman to switch bodies one weekend so that bedridden Grandpa can enjoy a weekend playing.

As I mentioned above, the idea sure ain't new--it's VERY 1980s. Additionally, the episode had an inexplicable element--the $&%@ baseball pitch--one that is 100% impossible and just seemed stupid. So, despite some nice acting and tender moments, a silly retread.