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Cast: Sharon Stone (Casino), Tony Goldwyn (Ghost), Famke Janssen (X-Men Series), Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn (Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore) and Gilles Marini (Sex in the City)
An aspiring fashion designer struggles to find success and love. The story cuts into her life once a year, always on the same date: her birthday.
Originally titled, 'A Little Something for Your Birthday.' 'All I Wish' tells the story of Senna who is trying to get her love life and her fashion career going. As the film opens, it is Senna's 46th birthday and she just spend the night with a young man. As her mother put it, "I heard you are dating a fetus." She is struggling in the love category as well as in her professional life where she just cannot seem to get her fashion designing career going at all. But after she meets a lawyer who has just moved into town Senna's life begins to change a little.
The film is told in chapters, each one marking Senna's next birthday. I thought this was a clever way of following a number of years of Senna's life but I also feared it might become a bit repetitive after a while but with a cast like this I was more than willing to take that gamble.
The film stars Sharon Stone as the 46 year old Senna but she looks so good she pulls it off because she is as beautiful as ever. Granted Senna could have been fleshed out a bit more but Stone does a terrific job playing her and bringing all the aspects of her character to life. Tony Goldwyn is also excellent as Adam, the lawyer and new guy in town who doesn't really hit it off well with Senna at first but as time passes they become more compatible. Ellen Burstyn is her usual amazing self as Celia, Senna's mother. The rest of the supporting cast were all fantastic as well.
The film doesn't have the most perfect narrative but I thought Writer/Director, Susan Walter did a great job telling the story the way she wanted it told. I was a little worried the film could become a bit boring by following Senna through a number of her birthdays but it some how works. Could it have been a better film with a normal narrative? Most likely but then again who knows. All I know is the film had a perfect mix of comedy and drama.
There are some truly funny moments and a few sad ones as along the way but in the end I thought it was a sweet, touching and engaging comedy/drama/romance with a cast that elevated it higher. I understand this type of film will not be for everyone but if it sounds like something you might like then I recommend checking it out when it hits theaters, VOD and Digital HD this Friday, March 30. 'All I Wish'is not a perfect film but it kept me entertained all the way to the end. Sharon Stone was a delight to watch and the film's feel good approach left me with a smile on my face.
Released by Universal Pictures / Paladin
*** 1/4 Out Of *****