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A SIMPLE WISH

“Magical Thinking”

Family Content: -3 Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems. (Sometimes excessive content such as violence is in otherwise redemptive movies.)

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What You Need To Know:

In A SIMPLE WISH, a little girl (Mara Wilson) learns to make her wishes come true by utilizing the services of a geeky, male fairy godmother-apprentice (Martin Short). A SIMPLE WISH opens with a roomful of dignified middle-aged woman, who take an exam to be fairy godmothers. Sitting among them, is Murray (Martin Short), a geeky fish way out of water. For reasons which are entirely unclear, Murray is accepted into the sisterhood of fairy godmothers, then turned loose to help sweet little Anabel (Mara Wilson). If Anabel’s father doesn’t land his theatrical role, the family will have to move to Nebraska, which Anabel thinks is like falling off the earth.

New Age thinking pervades A SIMPLE WISH. When Murray’s wand unexpectedly fails at a critical moment, Anabel convinces everyone that “the magic is in us,” so they join hands to visualize success and Murray’s wand works again. In contrast, God takes sorcery very seriously and regards it as a grievous sin. In Deuteronomy 18: 11-12, God tells Moses not to permit anyone in Israel cast spells. God says that He regards anyone who does these things as detestable to Him. Although it has high production values, with great music, the film’s occult premise undercuts its potential for entertainment and fun

Content:

(OO, Pa, NA, L,V, B, M) Occult worldview including fairy godmothers, a girl casting spells, magical powers, spells depicted with comic tone, witchcraft portrayed, & visualization, as well as reference to New Age metaphysical concepts, such as “the power within us”; 2 mild profanities; cartoon-style action & child threatened by man with gun; and, loving relationship between a father & his children

More Detail:

In A SIMPLE WISH, a little girl (Mara Wilson) learns to make her wishes come true by utilizing the services of a geeky, male fairy godmother-apprentice (Martin Short). A SIMPLE WISH opens with a roomful of dignified middle-aged woman, who take an exam to be fairy godmothers. Sitting among them, is Murray (Martin Short), a geeky fish way out of water. For reasons which are entirely unclear, Murray is accepted into the sisterhood of fairy godmothers, then turned loose to help sweet little Anabel (Mara Wilson). If Anabel’s father doesn’t land his theatrical role, the family will have to move to Nebraska, which Anabel thinks is like falling off the earth.
New Age thinking pervades A SIMPLE WISH. When Murray’s wand unexpectedly fails at a critical moment, Anabel convinces everyone that “the magic is in us,” so they join hands to visualize success and Murray’s wand works again. In contrast, God takes sorcery very seriously and regards it as a grievous sin. In Deuteronomy 18: 11-12, God tells Moses not to permit anyone in Israel cast spells. God says that He regards anyone who does these things as detestable to Him. Although it has high production values, with great music, the film’s occult premise undercuts its potential for entertainment and fun.