SCREEN

THE THIRD WISH

Josh Bell













THE THIRD WISH (PG)

(1 star)


Stars: Jenna Mattison, Sean Maguire, Betty White


Director: Shelley Jensen


Details: Opens Saturday



You have to hand it to Mattison. The writer, producer and star of The Third Wish was fed up with the Hollywood grind, so she started creating projects for herself, including 2003's indie dramedy, Fish Without a Bicycle, and Wish, a family-friendly romantic comedy.


Respect her then, but that doesn't mean you'll like Wish, an abysmal and inept comedy proving only that Mattison's skills as a producer include roping in D-list supporting players and convincing people that her annoying, faux-Julia Roberts acting techniques are perfect for the lead role. A few risqué jokes aside, with its fifth-rate cast and thin production values, Wish could be a made-for-TV movie on the Hallmark Channel (and not a particularly good one at that).


Mattison plays Maggie Malone, a struggling San Francisco bookstore clerk unlucky in love. When a stuffy British lawyer (Maguire) walks into the store and claims to represent a mysterious benefactor, Maggie gets swept up in a whirlwind of expensive clothes, cars and hotel rooms, while naturally falling in love with the British opposite of her freewheeling American self.


Only the presence of White as the bookstore owner saves this poorly paced, badly acted and completely inane movie from being totally unwatchable.

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