Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Ben Wagner is a feature film for families based on a novel by Mary Jane Auch.

The movie stars Sam Bottoms - Harriet Hall - Bettina Rae - Sylvia Sidney as Grammy and introducing Justin Gocke as Ben.

The story is about Ben Wagner a typical 13 year old boy who learns to believe in himself with the help of the mysterious Regina, a not so typical 13 year old girl.

"Ben Wagner" is an exciting and humorous story about moving to a new town and making new friends. Regina, who lives in a cabin by the lake, not only bewitches Ben, but her enchantment helps all the Wagners remember what life is really all about.

Ben and his family, two sisters (Susan and Liz), his mother and father are relocating because of their fathers job. He is moving to Lake View to work for Romano Realty.

On the trip Ben flies his model plane by remote control out the window of their old station wagon while his sister fusses at him because her hair is being messed up by the wind, but his younger sister says nothing, just looks from one to the other. Mom and Dad holler at them all.

Basically the family argues about everything.

Finally Ben's plane runs out of gas and crashes. They have to stop and go back to find it. It has crashed on a cliff side and Mr. Wagner tells Ben to climb down to get it. Ben is afraid to go so Mr.Wagner goes down to get it. Says Ben will never amount to anything.

When they arrive at Lake View they see a beautiful lake with wonderful mountains in the background. They find that Romano Realty owns most of it and squatters live on it.

Finally they get settled in a small house that is smaller then the one they moved from. Susan fusses that it is to small for them all.

When school starts the trouble begins. Ben puts Liz on her bus and misses his own bus. He has to run all the way to school and when he gets there he cannot find his class. Two boys make fun of him and send him on a wild goose chase. They send him around the building looking for a green door. He is caught by the truant officer and is sent to the office where he is wrote up.

His sister Susan lied about it and said the two boys dared Ben to cut class and got him in trouble at home. Susan only wanted Ben to give her some of his savings. She could have told the truth but it did not fit into her plans.

Ben goes to the lake to sulk and meets Regina. First she is there then she is gone and in her place was a black cat. Ben did not know what to think.

Next day after school Ben takes his plane which he has fixed and flies it over the lake. Suddenly it goes out of control. Ben turns around and see's Regina and suddenly the plane rights itself. Ben thinks Regina fixed it.

During school the next day Ben runs into Regina and talks to her. He is supposed to meet her at the lake Saturday, but he has chores to do. He does them all in a hurry, only half doing them, so he can go to the lake. Naturally he gets into trouble with his dad again. His Dad never see's what good Ben does. He needs to learn to love. He has no confidence in Ben. When Ben comes home from the lake he has to redo all his chores.

While he is at the lake him and Regina go to Regina'a house. On the way they have to cross the rapids on a fallen tree and old logs. Regina crosses but Ben falters and falls. Regina talks to him telling him "You can do It". He does. He finds he can do things if he tries.

He meets Grammy and thinks she is a witch. She makes all her food from Herbs and things from the lake. They look awful but are delicious. He is no longer afraid.

While he is redoing all his chores he hears Regina telling him "You can do It" and he does a fantastic job and gets praises from his Dad.

When they go to school again Regina talks Ben into trying out for the Basketball team. He does and makes the team. He out maneuvers all the guys on the team, even the two that sent him on a wild goose chase.

Ben is happy and goes by where his Dad works and they go to the lake together and start skipping stones. Dad finds the lake very restful and they have a good time. Ben takes his Dad to meet Regina and Grammy. On their way they have to cross the rapids. Ben runs over the logs but Dad slips and almost falls. Ben hollers at him "You can do It". It works and his Dad runs the rest of the way over.

Their meeting with Grammy and Regina is very restful and nice. They have a good time. When they get home Susan tries to make more trouble with Ben. Says he is hanging out with the school witch. Dad takes up for Ben. Even though he thinks Regina and Grammy are a witch also. Grammy told him about the curse of the Bazinko. Mr. Wagner likes all her herbs and things she makes.

At work George Wagner tells his boss about the lake and they decide to build a Lake Front Community there with a Beach Development and high rise building. He puts George in charge of planning it, which will put Regina and Grammy out of their house.

Everything goes wrong for George Wagner, from flat tires, to lighting striking around him. He thinks it is the Bazinko.

Ben goes to see Regina to ask if she is mad at him because of his Dad's development project and his little sister follows him. When he crosses the rapids on the old logs and is talking to Regina, he hears his little sister scream. She has fallen in the water. He rushes to help her. He jumps in the water while Regina goes for help. He keeps seeing Regina's eyes and her voice saying "You can do It". He saves Liz and they end up at the hospital.

Liz is fine, but Susan is crying her eyes out. She had sent Liz to spy on Ben so she could black mail him and get him to give her some of his savings. She wanted all her friends to think she was rich so she would fit in with them. Her friend Ashley was rich and had plenty of money to throw around.

Ben's dad called him a Hero. Ben thinks it was witch craft that helped him save Liz, but Regina said it was not witch craft, just bravery. Ben forgives his sister Susan.

Regina gave him confidence in himself. He now believes in himself and knows he can do what he sets out to do.

Finally Romano Realty have their outing at the lake with the bank investors. They are getting ready to start the Beach from project. George Wagner's boss turns over the meeting to George to explain what they have planned, but George turns the tables on them.

George has had a geologic study done on the lake and finds that the ground is unstable to hold large buildings so their project falls through. Romano Realty fires George. He is now without a job, but Regina and Grammy gets to keep their cabin on the lake.

George said let their dream project remain a dream. Then Ashley's father, who is one of the bankers, comes up and says he admires someone who takes a stand and tells him to come see him about a job. He finds it is people first, things later.

Regina says she and Grammy are not witches, just plain people just like everyone else. She taught Ben to Believe in Himself.

At the lake she vanishes again, and the cat is there, then she comes back beside of the cat. Ben finds she is just like him, not a witch. Or is she?

The movie teaches you that you can do what you set out to do, only if you believe in yourself.

What did Ben and his family learn about prejudging someone?

Why did Ben think Regina could turn into a cat?

How did Ben learn self confidence?

How can we make our families happier?

We learned to love and trust everyone in our family and listen to them. Talk to them and learn to trust each other. Have confidence and believe in each other.

Ben Wagner is a very good movie and the book is even better and is good viewing for the whole family.











Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for Groups