Magic. That’s what movies are made of! And
stories using magic are some of the oldest ones we tell. This genre
gets its name from the ancient story of Aladdin and the magic genie
that comes “out of the bottle” to fulfill his wishes
when he rubs a magic lamp. What these stories have in common, and
have forever, is what they teach: Be careful what you wish
for!
The magic can come from a magic lamp, or a
potion, a spell, or just a wish that is granted. And whether the
power we get is a blessing, like the ability to have the powers of
God in Bruce Almighty, or a curse, like in Freaky Friday when
Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis must swap bodies as mother and
daughter, the lesson learned is key to making the story work: Life
is pretty good even without magic.
Here are the three constant
components:
1. A “wish” asked for by the hero or
granted by another, and the clearly seen need to be delivered from
the ordinary.
2. A “magic spell” which, in setting
up this illogical thang, we must make logical by creating and
upholding “The Rules,” clearly set
boundaries.
3. A “lesson”: Be careful what you
wish for! It’s the running theme in all OOTB’s. Life is
good as it is.
Examples: Coraline, Night at the Museum,
Freaky Friday, The Nutty
Professor, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless
Mind
