Watching previews for A Simple Wish, you might have been reminded of another fantasy-friend movie: Drop Dead Fred. Those who saw that film and are still trying to regain full use of their synapses would probably rather drop dead themselves than risk more of the same. Too bad, because this is a great kids' flick: smart, funny, irreverent, and weird.

The tale of an inept male fairy godmother, Murray (Martin Short), and his futile efforts to grant a single wish to a young girl, Anabel (Mara Wilson), A Simple Wish (like all good fairytales) works on more than one level -- there's irony behind the slapstick, adult content beneath the gloss. For one thing -- maybe it's me -- but Murray seems a lot more fairy than godmother. Then there's Kathleen Turner, delightfully typecast as a sexy witch, Claudia, who's trying to get her hands on Murray's magic wand. Amanda Plummer has fun as Claudia's sidekick, Boots, a punky ex-dog ("r-r-r-ight"). And Teri Garr, much thinner than we've seen her lately, plays Rena, a fairy godmother with an eating problem. Get it?

Even if the subtleties escape you -- or if it is just me -- A Simple Wish is still big, garish, splashy, and fun. At the Copley Place, the Fresh Pond, and the Allston and in the suburbs.