The Third Wish (2005)

Really Surprised!

I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

What a terrible movie and a huge waste of time! The star is trying too hard to create a happy-go-lucky mash up between a Julia Roberts type character in Pretty Girl and a serious Rene Russo. She looks much older than her leading man (i.e., her face looks like she's had a lot of work done and not very good work at that. There is very little romantic chemistry between her and the male lead. Armand Assante plays his role like a mafia kingpin. I couldn't help waiting for him to say bada-bing, then shoot somebody.Watch this movie at your own peril. I would not recommend this movie to anyone. I'm not surprised I have never heard of the lead actress. After this film, she probably didn't work much.

For some reason the Big Red Envelope company recommended this piece of tripe to us as something we would like. What a heap of moronic clichés. I won't even hint at the plot line or you would figure it out instantly like I did. I kept waiting for a twist or at least something original, but to no avail. The lead character, played by Jenna Mattison, is easily the most annoying women I've ever seen on screen. The sad thing is, she is supposed to be cute and endearing. And what's with the freakishly huge mouth and the constant smiling, even while telling the tragic story of her early childhood? As a fan of Mystery Science Theater I've sat through some awful pieces of cheese, but this one really got under my skin.

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.

Clearly I am not the target audience on this one... and I will cop to the fact that I do know and love the actress/writer... so one can probably discard my opinion as biased... but the truth is, this was not really a movie made for me. I gave a copy to my niece... who now has every line memorized. She gave it to my other niece for Christmas who is now old enough to appreciate it. They have shared it with friends. My mother loves it. Her words "finally something for the kids that doesn't force them to grow up too fast." The movie is an intended family piece about love and insecurity and hopes and dreams. To slander it... to have any issue with it as a movie... or a creative endeavor... or to even simply state that you don't like it, well... then... you would have to be something of a puppy kicker. It is exactly as it should be... and knowing that, you can't not like it. If you pulled this one off the shelves and were so impassioned to go online and write a comment about it, good or bad... well, you're either 14 or you need a life.