Make a Wish Like ‘Wish Man’
Timothy Spearman
I went to an event called Touching Toronto last night. It was deeply touching to see so many faithful believers out to witness the healing power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. As I was attempting to leave, I realized I had misplaced the key to my bike lock. I found a metal implement and tried to break the lock. No good. It would take a miracle to remove that lock. Just then, a Good Samaritan appeared to lend a hand. He went back inside the venue hall to look for my misplaced key. Within five minutes, he reemerged with the key. That event showed me how it’s people helping people that keep the world turning, without which it would surely grind to a halt.
This also showed the relevance of the premise of the film, Wish Man: “If someone needs help, you give it to them.” At first, the film seems to be about no-hopers who abandon their kids and end up on skidrow. But plot twist after plot twist brings characters who care into the life of Frank Shankwitz Jr. (Andrew Steel). When Frank is nearly killed in a motorcycle crash, his chief orders him to help a terminally ill boy named Michael, whose dying wish is to become a motorcycle patrol officer. At first, Frank appears too cynical to take on the assignment, but the police secretary, Kitty Carlysle (Kirby Bliss Blanton), who is assigned to help Frank recover, changes his mind by insulting his manhood, a sure mind-changer for any real man with a code.
The touching relationship spawned between Michael (Christian Ganiere) and his mentor Frank is all it takes to turn Frank’s thinking and life around. Young Michael is not afraid to die, and his fearlessness in the face of death, makes Frank realize he’s been weak and ungrateful for his blessings.
The dramatic reversals keep surprising the viewer till Frank Jr. and Frank Sr. (Bruce Davison) are given a chance at redemption. When Frank Jr. attends Michael’s funeral, Kitty receives a call from Frank Sr. at the station, who has seen the heartwarming story about his son in the newspaper. Taking down Frank Sr.’s address, Kitty cleverly has Officer Tom Wells (Frank Whaley) pass on the address stealthily to his partner Frank. Bitterly angry with his father for abandoning him as a child, Frank Sr. soon learns from Frank Jr. that his mother, Lorraine (Fay Masterson), had told him as a boy that his father had died in a car accident. When Frank Jr. asks why his father never came for him, his father explains that he had tried to find him, but he and his mother had disappeared without a trace.
With hope restored in his life, Frank is exonerated when he is framed in a case of police brutality. What follows is a dinner held in his honour, where he is told he has been promoted to detective. Feeling inspired by the sudden windfall of good fortune, Frank announces his intention to found a non-profit so that people like Michael can be granted their fondest wish. In the post-film epilogue, we learn that Frank reconciled with his mother Lorraine, whom he remained close till her death at age 90.
As Frank says at the dinner held in his honour, “I never thought I could make a difference, but I was wrong. I’ve seen it: a simple act of kindness can have a ripple effect.”
Inspiring words from an inspiring film, this is how Alla Salute Canadian Magazine has been given a new mission and mandate. We intend to hold interviews with people like Michael, people who are or have been through life-threatening circumstances that nearly stole their hope, but we intend to see it restored tenfold with the help of our readership. Would you help us launch our Good Samaritan Campaign in the advent of Christmas and the Holiday Season?
