What Is A Simple Wish About?
The premise of A Simple Wish in 295 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a world where everyday life glimmers with hidden enchantments, the bustling streets of New York serve as a lively backdrop for a hidden community of fairy godmothers. Their whimsical rituals and secret gatherings coexist with the city’s ordinary rhythm, creating a playful tension between the mundane and the magical. The tone balances light‑hearted comedy with genuine warmth, inviting the audience to wonder what unseen wonders might be hovering just out of sight.
At the heart of the story is a determined little girl whose imagination refuses to be dismissed. Anabel dreams of a simple miracle: that her father, a hardworking cab driver with Broadway aspirations, finally lands the lead role in a new musical. Her dad, Oliver, carries the quiet hope of many dreamers, juggling the demands of his daily route with the larger stage that beckons from afar. The bond between daughter and father fuels the film’s emotional core, highlighting the power of belief and family support.
Enter the unconventional hero of the tale, a male fairy godmother navigating a profession long dominated by women. Murray finds himself tasked with making Anabel’s wish come true, a mission complicated by a broken wand and an unexpected upheaval at the annual fairy godmother convention. The gathering, normally a place of order and tradition, is suddenly unsettled, hinting at larger forces at play. Adding to the chaos are the looming presences of the notorious witches, Claudia and her companion Boots, whose mischievous interference promises to test Murray’s ingenuity.
The film weaves together whimsical magic, heartfelt family dynamics, and a dash of mischievous troublemaking, all delivered with a breezy, comedic flair. It celebrates the charm of chasing big dreams from small places, and reminds viewers that sometimes the most extraordinary adventures begin with a single, heartfelt wish.
What Happens in A Simple Wish?
The complete story of A Simple Wish, from the first scene to the last, in 747 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Oliver Greening, played by Martin Short, is a talented carriage driver with big dreams of making it to Broadway. Despite giving an outstanding audition for a new musical adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities, he is unfortunately overlooked in favor of the more established and commercially appealing Tony Sable, who is considered a safer bet by the producers. This setback leaves Oliver feeling disheartened but still determined to succeed.
That night, Oliver’s young daughter, Anabel, is having trouble convincing her brother Charlie that fairy godmothers truly exist. As they fall asleep, Anabel is surprised to awaken and find Murray, played by a male fairy godmother, who is often looked down upon because of his gender in a profession dominated by women. Murray, despite facing disdain from others, agrees to grant Anabel’s wish that her father land the part and avoid having to move to Nebraska. His hope is that by helping Oliver, he will earn respect and be taken seriously.
The story intensifies at the North American Fairy Godmothers Association (NAFGA) annual meeting, overseen by the head fairy godmother, Hortence. During the event, all fairy wands are supposed to be turned in to prevent misuse. However, Claudia, played by Kathleen Turner, an evil witch who was banished from NAFGA for her selfish stewardship of magic, sneaks into the gathering. She curses Hortence by turning her into paper and steals all the wands, except Murray’s, which he left behind in his rush to attend. This oversight leads to a series of chaotic incidents.
When Anabel tries to return Murray’s wand after Charlie accidentally breaks it, her attempt results in a series of mishaps. She glues the broken pieces back together and gives it to Murray, but a failed attempt at instant travel lands her and Murray in Nebraska instead of the intended destination. Their adventure continues at the Central Park zoo after a run-in with Duane, a local man furious at their presence. Murray’s attempt to turn Duane into a tiny rabbit backfires, transforming him into a giant rabbi instead. Just as Duane, now a giant, is about to stomp on them, Murray casts another spell, and they are transported away again.
Later, Anabel begs Murray to help her with her father’s misfortune, but in a comical mistake, Murray transforms Oliver into a statue. The trio then seeks Hortence’s help, only to discover that she is still under Claudia’s curse. While fixing his wand with Charlie’s assistance, Murray learns that Anabel must break Murray’s spell before midnight, or Oliver will be forever frozen as a statue. Meanwhile, Claudia begins to realize that Hortence secretly gave her wand to Murray, which could restore her full power if she manages to reclaim it.
In the meantime, at the theater, Anabel tries to sabotage Tony Sable’s audition to help Oliver get the role. Murray first attempts to make it rain on stage, but the effort is dismissed as a technical malfunction. Then, she asks him to give Sable a “frog in his throat,” and this time Murray takes her request literally, causing frogs to hop out of Sable’s mouth and shocking the audience. Nonetheless, Sable gets cast, as the director, Lord Richard, prefers to rush production and doesn’t want to wait for Oliver.
Things take a darker turn when Boots, Claudia’s loyal dog-turned-human servant, finds the fairy godmothers. Claimed to be Claudia’s pet, Boots is tricked into bringing them to Claudia’s lair. Claudia, played by Amanda Plummer, demands the wand, and when they refuse, she uses magic to force them into a dance until they tire out. While Charlie distracts Claudia, Anabel and Murray work together to retrieve the wand. Boots seizes the opportunity to snatch it, and Murray then cleverly manipulates Boots’ discontent with Claudia’s mistreatment to turn her against her mistress.
In the climax, Murray tricks Claudia into a spell that traps her within her own magic mirror. He shatters the mirror, imprisoning her permanently. With Claudia’s evil out of the way, the fairy godmothers, Murray among them, return to Central Park. They successfully restore Oliver, who is then cast as the understudy for Sable. To help grant Anabel’s wish, Murray causes Sable to slip on a bucket, injuring his ankle and prompting his firing. Oliver then gets his chance to shine, stepping into the lead role.
The story wraps up with Charlie, Anabel, Murray, and the other fairy godmothers enjoying the show, celebrating the victory of kindness, perseverance, and believing in magic when it counts the most.
A Simple Wish Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
10 key events in the order they happen, from “Oliver Greening Auditions for Broadway” to “Restoring Oliver and the Final Performance”. 2 events name a place, across 2 locations.
- 1
Oliver Greening Auditions for Broadway
Oliver Greening, a carriage driver, auditions for a new musical based on A Tale of Two Cities. Despite his talent, he loses to Tony Sable, a more established and bankable performer, which leaves Oliver disappointed. This sets his desire to succeed on Broadway despite setbacks.
- 2
Anabel Wishes for her Father
That night, Oliver's daughter Anabel wishes for her father to get the part so their family won't have to move to Nebraska. Murray, a male fairy godmother, overhears her wish and agrees to help, despite facing disdain for being a male in a female-dominated profession. Murray hopes fulfilling the wish will earn him respect.
- 3
Fairy Godmother Conference Disrupted
Hortence, the head fairy godmother, oversees the NAFA meeting, where all fairy godmothers turn in their wands to prevent mischief. The evil witch Claudia infiltrates the conference, turns Hortence into paper, and steals the wands, including Murray's which he failed to check in.
- 4
Murray's Wand Is Broken
Murray arrives late to the conference and does not check in his wand, making it the only one unaccounted for. Anabel finds Murray's wand and attempts to return it, but Charlie accidentally breaks it, leading to hilarious mishaps as they attempt to fix it.
- 5
Accidental Traveling and Transformation
Anabel glues the broken pieces of Murray's wand and uses it to try to teleport, but the spell backfires, and they are transported to Nebraska after a failed magic attempt. Murray also accidentally turns Duane into a giant rabbi instead of a rabbit while trying to transform him into a tiny creature.
Where:Nebraska
- 6
Oliver Turns to Stone
In a final attempt to help Anabel, Murray accidentally turns Oliver into a statue. The group then seeks Hortence’s help, only to find her cursed and trapped under Claudia's spell, complicating their efforts to reverse the magic.
- 7
Hortence Reveals the Rules
Hortence explains that Anabel must break Murray’s spell by midnight to save Oliver from remaining a statue forever. Meanwhile, Claudia's deceit is revealed as she secretly receives Hortence's wand, enhancing her ability to cast curses.
- 8
Sabotaging Tony Sable’s Audition
Anabel asks Murray to sabotage Sable’s Broadway audition. Murray attempts to make it rain on stage, but the weak rain is dismissed. He then tries to make Sable have frogs in his throat, resulting in frogs hopping out of Sable's mouth, but Sable still gets the role.
Where:Theatre
- 9
Claudia’s Confrontation
Claudia’s dog-turned-human servant Boots finds the fairy godmothers and captures Murray’s wand. Claudia demands it back, but Murray tricks her by causing her to cast a spell that traps herself in her magic mirror, which he then shatters to imprison her forever.
- 10
Restoring Oliver and the Final Performance
Murray, Charlie, and Anabel return to Central Park and successfully restore Oliver to his human form just in time. Oliver becomes Sable’s understudy, and Murray causes Sable to slip on a bucket, leading to Sable’s dismissal and Oliver taking the lead in the show, fulfilling Anabel’s wish.
Who Are the Main Characters in A Simple Wish?
4 characters, among them Murray, Anabel and Oliver Greening: who each one is and the part they play in the story. 2 of them link to the actor’s page.
-
Murray
Played by Martin Short
A male fairy godmother who is treated with disdain within his profession for being a man. Despite this, he is determined and caring, trying to help Anabel and her family with magical solutions. Murray’s character showcases kindness, persistence, and the struggle for acceptance.
- 🧚♂️ Fairy Godmother
- 🧓 Wise
- 💪 Determined
- A
Anabel
A young girl eager to see her father succeed and believe in the magic of fairy godmothers. She is hopeful, resourceful, and brave, often taking initiative to help her family and friends. Her innocence and determination drive much of the story’s emotional core.
- 👧 Child
- 🌟 Hopeful
- 💡 Resourceful
- OG
Oliver Greening
Played by Robert Pastorelli
A carriage driver with aspirations for Broadway success. His traits include ambition, kindness, and resilience, as he faces setbacks but remains hopeful about his dreams. His character embodies the pursuit of artistic achievement and family loyalty.
- 🚶♂️ Aspiring Actor
- 🎭 Dreamer
- 💪 Resilient
- C
Claudia
An evil witch banished from the fairy godmother association for her selfish use of magic. She is cunning, malicious, and manipulative, seeking to regain her full power through curses and schemes. Claudia’s actions highlight themes of greed and the abuse of power.
- 🧙♀️ Witch
- 🕸️ Malicious
- 🔮 Scheming
Where and When Is A Simple Wish Set?
A Simple Wish is set in Central Park, Broadway and Nebraska (Contemporary (early 2000s)). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Contemporary (early 2000s)
The story unfolds in a modern era, with references to theatrical auditions and Broadway productions. The setting's details imply a present-day timeframe, reflecting current cultural contexts and magical fantasy themes integrated into the everyday world.
Where
Central Park, Broadway, Nebraska
The movie takes place primarily in Central Park, a famous urban oasis in New York City known for its greenery and cultural events. Boston and Nebraska are also mentioned as settings, with Nebraska representing a rural, less urban environment. Broadway, the heart of American theatre, serves as the backdrop for the showbiz ambitions of the characters.
- 🌳 Park
- 🎭 Theatre
- 🌽 Rural
What Are the Themes of A Simple Wish?
2 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Magic and Family.
-
01
Magic
Magic plays a central role in the narrative, with fairy godmothers, spells, and curses impacting the characters' lives. The film explores the whimsical and unpredictable nature of magic, emphasizing its power to both help and hinder. The characters’ reliance on magic highlights themes of hope, trust, and the consequences of misusing supernatural powers.
-
02
Family
Family is a significant theme, with Oliver’s ambitions driven by a desire to provide stability for his children. The story also emphasizes the importance of sibling bonds through Charlie and Anabel, and the nurturing role of fairy godmothers as protectors. Their collective journey underscores love, sacrifice, and support.
What Kind of Film Is A Simple Wish?
Whimsical in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Whimsical
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A fast-paced, whimsical family adventure filled with clumsy magic, comic mishaps, and a chaotic race against time, all underpinned by a heartwarming story about believing in yourself and family.
- whimsical
- comical
- heartwarming
- chaotic
- magical
- lighthearted
- magic and wish
- family and dreams
- good versus evil
- fairies and witches
Content notes: child endangerment, hypnosis.
Quiz
How well do you remember A Simple Wish? Test yourself on the story.
