Wish (2002)

• 82%
• 2002
• John Warren

Ralph is the man we might see everyday. He holds the door open for us as we enter a bank or a grocery store. He gently smiles at us as we pass him crossing a street. He quietly sits down beside us on a bus, practically unnoticed. Unnoticed.The only company he keeps on his birthday is with his beloved dog. Virginia. And at the end of this day he makes a wish...Wish is a splendidly odd-ball tale of how Ralph's wish comes to be. We are introduced to Ralph's world and the sometimes dark and crazy, but often touching turns that it takes. The very matchbook that he uses to light his birthday candle intertwines the action and the eccentric characters that make up Wish. Along the way we meet Ralph's older brother Jack and his wife Beatrice, who seem to be caught in a time warp of sorts, living a life when good manners were rewarded with martinis, pearls were worn when doing the laundry and words of wisdom were passed out and received like an allowance. Gloria, an overly neurotic wannabe actress, who tries to seduce everyone she meets. Dr. Matthews, a cross-dressing therapist with a heart of gold and a penchant for swapping "trade stories" with a bartender named Vivian. Michael, a waiter, trying to get over his recent divorce, suffers from an unusual condition, and possibly one that hasn't quite made it into a psychological text book. Gwen, the sole caretaker to her mother who has nearly never left the house. And a hooker, who laughs all too often in the middle of a trick.Finally, the matchbook manages its way from one character to the next, touching each life with a little magic. And because miracles do happen, the forces of nature that reign divine help in making Ralph's simple wish come to fruition.