Truly uninspiring children's fare from Full Moon. The tag tells us that "Simon struggled to make friends" which is not surprising as Simon is played in a precocious and grimacing style by Matt Koruba (who is currently in the rock band 'Program the Dead'). Tom Fahn (a voice over actor primarily) is fun as the Genie but never has enough wit or charm to raise the film even to entertaining. Simon's mum is Stacie Randall, star of a few Full Moon movies and alongside the majority of the cast she is a little too sophisticated for the weak story. This is the primary disappointment, the script. Michael Davis is an immensely talented writer and director yet here he replaces charm with a misplaced notion that Simon is such a strong character that he can carry the film. Irritating, charmless and moronic in equal measures.
5 Reviews
A film to laugh at rather than with
Leofwine_draca2 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
THE INCREDIBLE GENIE is a cheesy-as-heck kid's film from the late '90s, made by Full Moon Entertainment and shot in Romania like so many others. Watching it today, it's something of a laugh riot and not for the right reasons; the kind of film you laugh at rather than with. The story is about a put-upon schoolkid who finds himself associated with a goofy genie whose wish-granting abilities usually go wrong.
The story is generally a mix of cringe-worthy humour scenes as the protagonist endures another pratfall at the hands of the magical being. The production is awash with incredibly cheesy and dated CGI effects of stretching necks and the like which look really, really bad and are a real laugh. The acting is wooden and attempts at drama with the intervention of some sinister government-agent type characters is a laugh too. It's the usual kind of production from Full Moon, then. I'd recommend sticking with WISHMASTER.
The story is generally a mix of cringe-worthy humour scenes as the protagonist endures another pratfall at the hands of the magical being. The production is awash with incredibly cheesy and dated CGI effects of stretching necks and the like which look really, really bad and are a real laugh. The acting is wooden and attempts at drama with the intervention of some sinister government-agent type characters is a laugh too. It's the usual kind of production from Full Moon, then. I'd recommend sticking with WISHMASTER.
Bad Bad Bad
m-p-driscoll10 March 2008
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone with kids. The "hero" is a thoroughly unpleasant, arrogant, nasty little know-it-all who deserves every bad thing that happens to him. He steals, assaults a police office, shows thinly concealed contempt for those who love him and a sneering superiority to any authority figure. Peers are fine and grown-ups are easily manipulated dolts. Special effects are good and acting is better than average for a kid film, but what a message! It's so wrongheaded, you'll feel like throwing something at the screen. Read other "positive" review and couldn't believe we saw the same film. Watch this and regret it...I know I did.
An enjoyable magic carpet ride, except for the ending
inkblot1116 January 2005
Don't call him Simple Simon! Simon's the smartest one at school and the other children hardly ever converse with him or sit with him at lunch...or anytime.In the same town, a scientist is working on paranormal phenomena, having just returned from an archaeological dig. As fortune may fall, Simon ends up with a lamp the scientist had discovered abroad. Shazam....it's a genie's lamp, yes! Simon finds the sprightly genie inside a pain at first (tricks do not turn out correctly) but warms up to the guy over time. Yet, when Simon's house changes in a noticeable way, things get lively very quickly. Will having a genie be a good thing or the reverse?
This is a fun family film for a Friday night. The boy who plays Simon is a natural actor and the lady that plays his mother charms in a big way. There is magical fun and a romance as well. The genie is an absolute delight in every way, too. The ending was a bit of a disappointment as it defies logic but perhaps kids won't have any quarrels with that. Are you looking for something your family can watch together and everyone will be tickled? You do not need a genie...just take a stroll to the video store or library.
This is a fun family film for a Friday night. The boy who plays Simon is a natural actor and the lady that plays his mother charms in a big way. There is magical fun and a romance as well. The genie is an absolute delight in every way, too. The ending was a bit of a disappointment as it defies logic but perhaps kids won't have any quarrels with that. Are you looking for something your family can watch together and everyone will be tickled? You do not need a genie...just take a stroll to the video store or library.
Nice, entertaining movie
chipchoco10 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this movie about 5 years back. To me, it was a nice, entertaining movie. The cast did a great job too. I thought the plot was creative too. This movie teaches us the value of friendship & that good friends can bring happiness to our lives.
Some people have rated this movie poorly. But I really don't find a reason to give it such poor rating. In fact, I think Simon releasing Genie from the lamp symbolizes that a true friend can get you out of trouble & release you from various burdens which imprison you. Also, if you have a kind heart and go on being nice to others, you will win friends, eventually. Just like Simon did. So overall, I really did enjoy this movie.
Some people have rated this movie poorly. But I really don't find a reason to give it such poor rating. In fact, I think Simon releasing Genie from the lamp symbolizes that a true friend can get you out of trouble & release you from various burdens which imprison you. Also, if you have a kind heart and go on being nice to others, you will win friends, eventually. Just like Simon did. So overall, I really did enjoy this movie.
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