The Wizard (1989)

Less raunchy than Tommy and more conventional than Tron, The Wizard also revolves around gaming. There's even a Bridges on board. In Tron it was Jeff, in The Wizard it's Beau. As opposed to the rock opera’s pinball-playing "deaf, dumb, and blind kid," however, quasi-catatonic Jimmy (Luke Edwards) is a video game wiz. While the nine-year-old lives with his mother, half-brothers Corey (Fred Savage, circa The Wonder Years) and Nick (Christian Slater, fresh from Heathers) live with their father, Sam (Bridges). When Jimmy, who recently lost his sister, is placed in a home, Corey busts him out for a trip to California. (Today, Jimmy's condition would be labeled post-traumatic stress disorder.) As they're leaving Utah, they join forces with gaming enthusiast Haley (Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis), who suggests LA's National Video Game Championships. So, off they go by foot, skateboard, and the kindness of strangers. Sam, Nick, and obnoxious bounty hunter Putnam (Will Seltzer) are close behind. The outcome may be a foregone conclusion--the fractured family makes their peace--but The Wizard still offers a nostalgic, Nintendo-laden look at 1980s gamer culture (Power Glove, Super Mario Bros. 3, etc.). Plus, sharp-eyed viewers will spot Toby Maguire milling around before the showdown at Universal Studios Theme Park. If not for the hitchhiking, gambling, and reckless automotive destruction--after Putnam takes a knife to Sam's tires, Sam smashes his headlights with a shovel--the movie would be appropriate for all ages. In other words, it earns its PG rating. --Kathleen C. Fennessy Amazon.com

Nostalgia time!

This movie tells the story of a quiet little boy who wants to go to California. His half brother played by Fred Savage decides that they are going to run away. The quiet kid is going to get sent to a mental institution or something, and Savage can't deal with it. Savage's older brother is played by Christian Slater, and Beau Bridges plays his dad. Christian Slater doesn't really have a huge role, but it's nice to see him among the cast, because he has always been one of my favorite actors because of movies like Pump up the Volume, Heathers and True Romance. I imagine the only reason he isn't one of the stars of the movie is because he hadn't become a star yet himself. Fred Savage is annoying at times, but he still gives a pretty good performance. and Beau Bridges is great. I always love seeing him. Ok, so back to the story. Fred Savage finds out his little brother is a great video game player, and when they meet a girl played by Jenny Lewis, they decide to go to a Nintendo tournament. The Nintendo tournament I thought was way too short, but it's still cool. As I remember it, this movie had exclusive footage of a new game, Super Mario Bros 3. Quite exciting for a 7 or 8 year old. I can't believe I remember this movie so well. There's just movies like that. And I was amazed at how much I liked it seeing it 18 years later. This was definitely on my list of top 5 favorite movies when I was little.

3.5/5

I didn't even know this movie was on DVD, until I saw it at the store in a double feature with another kid type movie called Cloak and Dagger. I was so happy to find this DVD. October 16, 2008

Fun movie

Jenny Lewis is one of my favorite singers, so I really enjoy watching movies with her. It's a very popular 80s movie and it is fun. The funniest is when the video game people give the kids at the end an exclusive video game play and its Mario (I forget which version). Really makes you feel old when you remember having played that growing up... September 22, 2008

Location Question

Can anyone tell me the name of the restarant when haley busts out the nintendo power....it was the same place where jimmy was playin ninja gaiden and they had tv screens in the tables..... August 7, 2008

I love the Power Glove, its so bad.

Great quote from Lucas Barton in this great 80's video game flick. I enjoyed this movie more than one might imagine when I was there opening day with my best friend, both barely 10. It still holds that nostalgic value today, especially for those with working NES' (where were the cans of air back then?) and who have a desire to relive the glory days of video games (ok maybe not the Power Glove...that thing kinda stinks).

I recommend this to anyone who hasn't seen it and wants to see probably one of the better games based around the fad (at the time it was just thought to be a fad) of video games and their world back in the late 80's. August 6, 2008

Retro Gaming Goodness... In a Movie!

'I love the power glove... it's so bad'. Classic line from this 90 minute Nintendo advert, I mean movie, from the early 90's. Chock full of star actors - Fred Savage, Christian Slater and Beau Bridges, this is a good family movie, but especially so if you are into retro gaming. See the NES played everywhere, video games galore, and the first look at Super Mario III. This was a box office flop, despite the star actors, but now it deserves to be placed in the retro computer and gaming hall of fame along side such other classics as Wargames and Tron. June 13, 2008

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