The Wizard Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A traumatized kid drags his brother and a random girl across the country just to prove he’s good at Nintendo, while a sleazy bounty hunter and a dad with a shovel fight over him like a misplaced console.

🍿 The Wizard: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introducing Jimmy and Corey

The film opens with Jimmy Woods, a young boy traumatized by the death of his twin sister, exhibiting withdrawn behavior and an obsession with California. His half-brother, Corey, struggles to connect with him amidst a fractured family dynamic stemming from their parents’ divorce. Jimmy’s condition leads to him being placed in an institution, which spurs Corey to take drastic action.

A Cross-Country Escape

Corey breaks Jimmy out of the institution, and the two embark on a journey to California. Along the way, they encounter Haley, a street-smart girl who becomes their friend and accomplice. The trio’s journey is fraught with challenges, including evading a sleazy bounty hunter hired by Jimmy’s mother and stepfather, and navigating the unfamiliar world of hitchhiking and makeshift travel.

The Video Game Prodigy

Haley discovers Jimmy’s exceptional talent for playing video games, leading her to suggest they enter him in a video game tournament called “Video Armageddon,” promising a $50,000 prize. Driven by the hope of proving Jimmy’s potential and securing a better future, they decide to pursue this opportunity. They begin using Jimmy’s skills to win money in arcades and small-time competitions.

Rivalries and Challenges on the Road

As they travel, they encounter various obstacles and characters, including Lucas Barton, a skilled gamer with a Power Glove who becomes Jimmy’s rival. They face challenges such as being robbed, navigating unfamiliar cities, and constantly evading the persistent bounty hunter, Putnam. Their bond strengthens as they rely on each other to overcome these hurdles.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jimmy Woods (Luke Edwards): A mentally-fragile young boy with a prodigious talent for video games who embarks on a journey to California.
• Corey Woods (Fred Savage): Jimmy’s older half-brother who helps him escape and supports his video game aspirations.
• Haley Brooks (Jenny Lewis): A street-smart girl who joins Corey and Jimmy on their adventure, recognizing Jimmy’s gaming talent and helping them reach the video game championship.
• Sam Woods (Beau Bridges): Corey and Jimmy’s father who chases after them, trying to protect them and understand Jimmy’s needs.
• Putnam (Will Seltzer): A sleazy bounty hunter hired by Jimmy’s mother to bring him back, creating conflict and obstacles for the children.
• Lucas Barton (Vince Trankina): A skilled and arrogant video game player who serves as Jimmy’s main rival in the video game championship.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Lucas: “I love the Power Glove. It’s so bad.” – Lucas’s ironic statement about the Power Glove has become a well-known quote, despite the accessory’s poor functionality.
• Jimmy: “California.” – Jimmy repeats ‘California’ throughout the movie, symbolizing his mysterious and compelling goal.
• Haley: “He touched my breast!” – Haley shouts this to distract Putnam, the bounty hunter, creating a memorable and humorous moment.
• Corey: “Jimmy, watch the mushroom!” – Corey yells this at the Video Armageddon Super Mario Bros 3 part

💰Box Office

• Budget: $6,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $14,278,900
• Worldwide Gross: $14,278,900

💥 The Wizard Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so it’s basically a 90-minute ad for Nintendo, but I LOVED this movie as a kid! Seeing Super Mario Bros. 3 for the first time on the big screen was mind-blowing. The Power Glove! The road trip! Plus, Fred Savage and Jenny Lewis were awesome. Sure, the plot is kinda silly, but it’s pure nostalgic fun.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of 1980s nostalgia”
  • “Video game enthusiasts”
  • “Families looking for a light-hearted adventure movie”
  • “Those who enjoy coming-of-age stories”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild language”
  • “Themes of family separation and grief”
  • “Brief depiction of child endangerment”
  • “Some peril and chase sequences”

Professional Reviews

• Common Sense Media: “More of a Nintendo commercial than a family-friendly film, ‘The Wizard’ may appeal to gamers for its nostalgia but falls flat on plot and character development. Filled with product placement and clichéd storylines, it’s a forgettable adventure.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “Critics widely panned it as a 90-minute Nintendo commercial, but young viewers were enthralled. The film combined very human storytelling with hardy laughs and wide-eyed exhilaration. It gave us playground catchphrases. Sure the highlight was all the cool video game-related stuff, but video games were a big part of our lives, one that our parents just didn’t understand. The people who made this movie, whatever their intentions, did.

Audience Reactions

The Super Mario Bros. 3 reveal was legendary!: Viewers generally enjoyed the nostalgic trip back to the late 80s and the early days of Nintendo.

Overall Consensus: A nostalgic trip for Nintendo enthusiasts, but overall weak in plot and character development.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is known for being a feature-length advertisement for Nintendo and the then-unreleased game Super Mario Bros. 3.”
• “The Video Armageddon tournament was filmed at Universal Studios Hollywood, incorporating the theme park as part of the movie’s setting.”
• “The character of Jimmy was originally intended to be non-verbal throughout the entire film, but Luke Edwards convinced the director to add a few lines, including the iconic ‘California’ phrase.”
• “While the Power Glove was prominently featured, it was notoriously difficult to use in reality, a fact that contrasts with Lucas’s proficiency in the movie.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Wizard?

As of October 2024, “The Wizard” is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your local listings for streaming availability and rental/purchase options. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray are also available from major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Wizard, you might like these similar films:

• Rain Man (1988): Features a road trip with a character who has unique abilities and requires care, similar to Jimmy’s journey and relationship with Corey.
• Little Miss Sunshine (2006): A dysfunctional family road trip movie where the characters bond through shared experiences and support each other’s unique goals.
• Ready Player One (2018): Explores themes of video game culture, competition, and the desire for connection and escape, much like ‘The Wizard’ but with a modern, virtual reality twist.

🛒 The Wizard Related Products

• Nintendo Entertainment System NES Classic Edition: Relive the glory days of 8-bit gaming with this classic console! Pre-loaded with 30 iconic NES games, it’s the perfect way to introduce a new generation to the magic of Nintendo or rediscover your own childhood favorites.
• Super Mario Bros. 3 (Nintendo Entertainment System): Experience the game that everyone went crazy over when they saw The Wizard. Jump, dash, fly, and swim your way through eight expansive worlds and defeat Bowser! Relive the thrill of collecting power ups.
• The Wizard Movie Poster: A high-quality print of the original movie poster, perfect for framing and displaying in a game room or home theater. Show off your love for this classic film!
• Official Nintendo Power Magazine: A retro magazine featuring guides and sneak peeks that Jimmy Woods would have used. It offers great content for the Super Mario series and more. Feel like Jimmy learning the tricks of the game.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Wizard features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “You Don’t Get Much” – performed by BoDeans
• “Send Me an Angel” – performed by Real Life
• “I Found My Way” – performed by Kyle Vincent

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Wizard (1989) final game scene (Happy 30th)

Remember that epic final showdown in ‘The Wizard’? This video brings back all the nostalgic feels with the final game scene. It’s pure gaming gold, and honestly, I still get hyped watching it!

✨ Rate