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

Ok, I don’t have the tape yet, but Borders (via Amazon) swears it is speeding its way to me as fast as they can (without paying extra for speedy shipping. I could be called Cheapmistress too.) I did have the very good fortune to tape this Christmas special the one year that it aired.

Now, a little reminder. I hate just about every living artist. The heads are too big, the heads are too small, his elbow is in the wrong place, her boobs are the size of … well, her head, which is too big. There are two children’s book artists I am fond of, P. J. Lynch and Holly Hobbie. Both watercolorists. I haven’t liked a cartoonist since Bill Waterson quit working in a fit of pique. If I like a cartoon, I like the story. (Get Fuzzy is a current favorite.) I always liked Bloom County, but not usually for the art. And heaven forbid an artist try to be clever. I will slice and dice said artist’s craft and writing in a heartbeat. I demand perfection.

Why do I tell you this? So that you will understand the full gravity of what I am about to say.

A Wish For Wings That Work is the best Christmas special imaginable.

Read it again so that the full impact sinks in. I’ll wait.

Ok, now for the reasons I know you crave. (Why don’t you guys ever just believe me, huh? Reasons, you need reasons.)

*The Story*
Opus is writing a letter to Santa asking for wings. In the letter he describes his day which involves chasing ducks down the street saying "Fly. Fly, fly, fly. Flyflyflyfly" which is easy to say, but not easy to do. Then there’s Bill who he seems to be saddled with. And the flightless bird support group he’s just joined, other members include a chicken who thinks she’s a 747 and a Kiwi whose wife left him for an albatross (his puny kiwi wings weren’t good enough for Delores.) The group following his support group is Cross Dressing Cockroaches in Crisis. And then there’s that French accented pig who thinks he’s a rhinoceros or maybe a water buffalo. Anyway, to make a complicated story short, Santa has a bit of trouble with the hitch in his sleigh and takes a dunking. The ducks, at the urging of Bill, get Opus to help. Opus saves Santa and the next morning, as he is now the ducks’ hero, they take him flying.

*The Art*
Mr. Breathed and his merry band of illustrators out did themselves and most of the other artists working (yes, including Disney, have you SEEN the schlock they’ve been putting out?) The art is magnificent. If you get your hands on a copy of the book, you will get taste, but not the whole picture. Opus, Bill, Truffles (the pig) and the trio of ducks are beautifully rendered as nearly three dimensional cartoons. And Santa (who we never see all of) looks every bit of the Victorian Santa, round and jolly.

*What Makes This The Best*
Oh, the details. Robin Williams voices the Kiwi, Dustin Hoffman, the cross dressing cockroach. Opus has a nightmare that he is flying a plane and parts of Lost Horizon are used as his nightmare. There’s a Stormin’ Norman’s Toy Shop and Army Surplus in one scene. The three ducks are doing the Three Stooges, except they’re funny. Opus faxes his letter to Santa. The lobotomy coupons in the Little Friskies. The scene with the hairball and the scene with the detachable rear end are hysterical and completely indescribable.

The moral of the story is: play the hand that is dealt. Opus can’t fly, but he can swim and that’s what’s needed to save Santa.

This tape is just packed from stem to stern with hysterical, poignant, breathtaking moments. And lest you think it’s too adult for kiddies, remember what goes over their heads won’t hurt them and you were going to have to explain cross dressing eventually.

I purchased the book version many years ago because it was impossible to find the special on the loaded Christmas tapes we have. The book is ok, the video is stellar. Go now. Buy. Make sure you get the video and not the book.


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age