Starring: Andrew Steel, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Tom Sizemore, Frank Whaley, Julian Curtis, Robert Pine, Fay Masterson, Steven Michael Quezada, Bruce Davison, Jason Gerhardt, Dale Dickey, Christian Ganiere, Chris Day, Larry Wilcox, Danny Trejo
Distributor: Other
Runtime: 97 mins. Reviewed in Sep 2022
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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One boy’s wish changed a man. One man’s wish changed the world.
While there is a sense of the presence of God, it is not an explicitly faith film though its story line has resemblances. It is a strong values film, with the storytelling in the emotional American style.
The film is based on a true story. The central character, Frank Shankwitz, established a foundation, described in a Google entry: ‘Make-A-Wish was founded in 1980 and headquartered in Phoenix. The organisation operates through its 59 chapters located throughout the United States. Make-A-Wish also operates in nearly 50 other countries around the world through 39 international affiliates.’
The film opens in the backblocks of Illinois and then moves to Arizona, Prescott. The screenplay veers between the story of the young Frank, his living in a caravan with his harsh mother, resentful of her husband, disappearing with Frank when the husband threatens to sue for some custody. She and Frank move to Arizona and Frank gets some local jobs, being befriended by a store owner. When his mother disappears, Frank has to stand up for himself and learn to assert himself. When he grows up he becomes a motorcycle cop.
There is some drama when he pursues a couple driving recklessly, violence ensuing, and the need for his calling for help, the difficulty being that the officer who comes to help is antagonistic to Frank. In the violence, Frank is knocked out, not breathing for three minutes but then reviving. This has quite an effect on him, although he is hard-headed, not wanting to be dependent on anyone, either in hospital or out of it.
He has a sympathetic boss and there is a new officer, Kitty, who is seconded to look after Frank and his recovery – with mixed results. However, as expected, a bond does grow up between the two.
There are three dramatic strands. There is a false report about Frank and the violence with the couple he stopped on the road, their suing, and the antagonistic policeman and the boss conspiring with the couple to blame Frank. Frank is saved by a lawyer, a friend of the young rookie who works with Frank and is the target of Frank’s putdowns. Frank is vindicated. Then there is the issue of the disappearance and some scenes with Frank’s father, living in Chicago, reading a report about Frank and making contact, leading to a tearful reunion (and a touch tearful for the audience as well).
The key strand is the request by a little boy dying of leukaemia to meet the motorcycle cops, influenced by the popular TV series of the time, Chips, and Frank, initially unwilling, of course, bonding with a little boy, his being welcomed, badges, helmet, on the bikes. The little boy dies and Frank goes to the funeral, moved by the fulfilment of the little boy’s wish – and, so, the origins of ‘Make a Wish’.
Frank Shankwitz himself was an adviser on the film, and persuaded people in Prescott to provide locations for the filming and some crowdfunding for its completion.
The cast includes quite a number of veteran American character actors, but the central role is taken by Australian, Andrew Steel (and the rookie is played by Australian Justin Curtis). Kitty is played by Kirby Bliss Blanton.
Some tough moments and situations, some emotional moments, and an affirmation of faith and hope in human nature and values. https://wonder.watch/wish-man
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