X
- 1989
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 36 m
- 1989
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 36 m
Summary A boy and his brother run away from home and hitch cross country with the help of a girl they meet to compete in the ultimate video game championship.
Directed By: Todd Holland
Written By: David Chisholm
- 1989
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 36 m
- 1989
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 36 m
The Wizard
23
6.4
Where to Watch
Summary A boy and his brother run away from home and hitch cross country with the help of a girl they meet to compete in the ultimate video game championship.
Directed By: Todd Holland
Written By: David Chisholm
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
23
11% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
11% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
78% Negative
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
23
11% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
11% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
78% Negative
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
Despite some forced lines and an overlong competition sequence, Holland holds The Wizard together well, supplementing the obvious stand-up-and-cheer climax with a moving conclusion. [15 Dec 1989, p.12]
The Wizard is bright, fast and energetic, but there’s not much real life to it. It’s another movie that’s disappeared into its own marketing hook: Three kids on the road, living and loving, racing toward personal redemption and video ascension.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 7 User Ratings
6.4
43% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
43% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
14% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 7 User Ratings
6.4
43% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
43% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
14% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
Before you go off to see The Wizard with your own video whiz kid, consider visiting an arcade instead. Your entertainment dollar would be much better spent on Double Dragon. [15 Dec 1989, p.6D]
A feature-length commercial for the Nintendo electronic games system, so thinly disguised that it wouldn't even fool a Reagan-appointed FCC commissioner. [15 Dec 1989, p.G]
The runaways' actions provide anything but responsible models for the children who make up the film's target audience, and the likable cast flails against the rampant idiocy and gross commercialism.
The Wizard does have a half-baked germ of a story at its center, but it's never developed because director Todd Holland turns his movie into one long commercial whose climax is the unveiling of a new Nintendo game - just in time for Christmas, boys and girls. [15 Dec 1989, p.7]
The Wizard is not only tacky and moribund, but it teaches gambling and bad sportsmanship.
Production Company
Universal Pictures,
Finnegan/Pinchuk Productions,
Pipeline Productions
Release Date Dec 15, 1989
Duration 1 h 36 m
Rating PG
Tagline They're on a cross-country adventure to the world's greatest video championship. It's more than a game...it's the chance of a lifetime.
Awards
Young Artist Awards
• 4 Nominations
