I found a copy of this movie at the local library. The title and the advertising seemed interesting so I borrowed it.
Unfortunately, I can see why the movie went "STRAIGHT TO VIDEO"! First, the lead actress (Jenna Mattison) simply does not have the "spark" necessary to carry this movie. If I'm not mistaken, I think she may have had a role in writing some of it which explains how she may have been cast as the lead but she cannot carry this movie.
I find it hilarious when the lead character makes a reference to Julia Roberts of Pretty Woman in this movie. It seems Ms. Mattison spends way too much of her time trying to mimic Ms. Roberts without trying to figure out what talents or gifts Ms. Mattison can bring to the screen.
Synopsis/Spoiler Alert: Ms. Mattison plays Maggie Malone, a woman quite content with living life the way it is as a book store clerk. She no longer believes in love but has always had 1) a love for magic and 2) a desire to fly in a plane and other wishes (important later).
One day while working at the book store, Maggie discovers a copy of Great Expectations. Like one of the characters in the book, Maggie gets a "benefactor" (someone who does good things for her secretly on the condition she does not try to find out the identity of the individual).
The benefactor turns out to be Maggie's biological father (played by veteran actor Armand Assante). Maggie had been given up for adoption when she was about 5 years old. Her mother had been killed and her biological father felt ill-equipped to provide care for her. The biological father placed Maggie in an orphanage with nuns to care for her and Maggie's only memory of her father was the fact that he entertained her with magic tricks. Once on his feet, Maggie's father attempted to contact the orphanage and reclaim his daughter but the orphanage would not allow it. Maggie's father went on to become a very wealthy businessman with one wish: to get his daughter back into his life. He does so by hiring a dashing lawyer to "make all of Maggie's dreams come true" by being the benefactor's agent.
Maggie gets a $5 million bank account, a fancy car, a beautiful penthouse and her biggest dream of all: her own book published since she's an aspiring writer. However, Maggie must never know where the money is coming from or she will forfeit everything. It turns out the benefactor's agent falls in love with Maggie and has a change of heart -revealing the benefactor's identity.
While this sounds like an interesting plot, the execution of this plot is poor. First, it's a shame to see the talents of veteran actors James Avery, Armand Assante, Betty White and Mindy Cohn wasted. The actors could have brought more dept to their roles if they had been given "meatier" roles.
Second, this movie was marketed as a "family movie". I'm still trying to figure out why because the themes are very sophisticated: fear, abandonment, love, etc. This movie is actually pretty "deep" but it was poorly marketed. I'm guessing someone saw the word "wish" and thought "oh, kids do this all the time...let's make this a family movie" but it doesn't quite work out that way.
In short, I cannot recommend this movie. The lead actress cannot carry the role, veteran actors are wasted and the themes are too sophisticated to be packaged into a sweet, syrupy family movie.
Unfortunately, I can see why the movie went "STRAIGHT TO VIDEO"! First, the lead actress (Jenna Mattison) simply does not have the "spark" necessary to carry this movie. If I'm not mistaken, I think she may have had a role in writing some of it which explains how she may have been cast as the lead but she cannot carry this movie.
I find it hilarious when the lead character makes a reference to Julia Roberts of Pretty Woman in this movie. It seems Ms. Mattison spends way too much of her time trying to mimic Ms. Roberts without trying to figure out what talents or gifts Ms. Mattison can bring to the screen.
Synopsis/Spoiler Alert: Ms. Mattison plays Maggie Malone, a woman quite content with living life the way it is as a book store clerk. She no longer believes in love but has always had 1) a love for magic and 2) a desire to fly in a plane and other wishes (important later).
One day while working at the book store, Maggie discovers a copy of Great Expectations. Like one of the characters in the book, Maggie gets a "benefactor" (someone who does good things for her secretly on the condition she does not try to find out the identity of the individual).
The benefactor turns out to be Maggie's biological father (played by veteran actor Armand Assante). Maggie had been given up for adoption when she was about 5 years old. Her mother had been killed and her biological father felt ill-equipped to provide care for her. The biological father placed Maggie in an orphanage with nuns to care for her and Maggie's only memory of her father was the fact that he entertained her with magic tricks. Once on his feet, Maggie's father attempted to contact the orphanage and reclaim his daughter but the orphanage would not allow it. Maggie's father went on to become a very wealthy businessman with one wish: to get his daughter back into his life. He does so by hiring a dashing lawyer to "make all of Maggie's dreams come true" by being the benefactor's agent.
Maggie gets a $5 million bank account, a fancy car, a beautiful penthouse and her biggest dream of all: her own book published since she's an aspiring writer. However, Maggie must never know where the money is coming from or she will forfeit everything. It turns out the benefactor's agent falls in love with Maggie and has a change of heart -revealing the benefactor's identity.
While this sounds like an interesting plot, the execution of this plot is poor. First, it's a shame to see the talents of veteran actors James Avery, Armand Assante, Betty White and Mindy Cohn wasted. The actors could have brought more dept to their roles if they had been given "meatier" roles.
Second, this movie was marketed as a "family movie". I'm still trying to figure out why because the themes are very sophisticated: fear, abandonment, love, etc. This movie is actually pretty "deep" but it was poorly marketed. I'm guessing someone saw the word "wish" and thought "oh, kids do this all the time...let's make this a family movie" but it doesn't quite work out that way.
In short, I cannot recommend this movie. The lead actress cannot carry the role, veteran actors are wasted and the themes are too sophisticated to be packaged into a sweet, syrupy family movie.