Customer Reviews

Opus n' Bill in A Wish for Wings That Work

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Opus has always been my favorite comics character and it was a sad, sad day when Bloom County ended. When I first heard that this special would be on TV, I was very excited. I was not disapointed.

One of the best things about this video is that it has two levels. Kids will like it because it has plenty of funny voices and, of course, Bill the Cat. But there is also a higher level that adults will enjoy with allusions to old black and white movies and references only they would get.

The story is about Opus, a penguin, who asks Santa for a pair of wings that work. He tries everything from therapy to balloons in order to fly. The ending really shows the meaning of Christmas and is, in my opinion, the best Christmas story (and should be shown on TV again). This is a great video that any kid would really enjoy and one that their parents will look forward to as well.

If you only let your kids see one video, let it be this. This is very well thought out and very well narrated by some great comic voices. Robin Williams just to name one. The creator Berkley Breathed is a comic book genius. Lighted hearted with a message that won't bang you over the head with sappy syrupy clap trap. P.S. Please Please let it be produced on DVD and soon! My VHS copy is very very tired as it is a Christmas Classic in our home.

I originally taped this special the one and only time it aired on TV. My VCR at the time was broken and recorded everything in black in white, but I loved Opus N Bill so much I kept the tape for years. After looking for a real tape of it everywhere with no success, I discovered Amazon shortly after the site came online and to my astonishment, Amazon had Opus N Bill listed. I bought it immediately! It was the first purchase I ever made on Amazon and years later it is still to this day, my favorite. I was thrilled to find it on VHS back then. The only thing that would thrill me more would be if it was released on DVD today.

I agree with everyone else, this 1991 Christmas special based on the Bloom County comic strip is pure classic adult christmas entertainment. And the kids will love it as well.

I remembered that this was only a half-hour TV special and was wondering what Universal was going do to pad out the DVD. They did nothing. With all of the christmas themed cartoons that they own outright ( including the Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker library ), Universal added nothing to this short film. Yet they charge $15 for a show that lasts less than a half hour (with out the commercials). Yet Universal will give you an 8-movie boxed set of Abbott & Costello films for just a few more dollars.
I'm not asking for that much, but we should get more than 24 minutes of program for our $15.

I am still buying this classic, I just feel a little short changed.

For years now, we've been dragging out a tattered old copy of this TV special we taped off of broadcast TV 7 or 8 years ago. Even with that poor quality and having to fast forward through the commercials - Christmas Eve wouldn't be the same without seeing A Wish for Wings that Work. Delightful and irreverant, but with touching messages about friendship and the real meaning of Christmas - this is a truly wonderful video. I'm baffled as to why it isn't routinely broadcast.

If memory serves me correctly, this christmas special aired once on primetime television (in the USA). Since then it has been shelved as the popularity of Bloom County and other Berkley Breathed cartoons have waned. The off-beat comedy of this cartoon was very topical to the time of its release (late 80's or early 90's I believe) and semi-adult in nature. (a cross dressing cockroach, a delusional pig, and a kiwi bird with a small 'wing' complex for example) This special offers a relief from the forced annual playing of "It's a wonderful life" & "A Christmas Carol". Unfortunately since it is a holiday themed special, it can only hope to played at a certain time of year, and once (if) it becomes a holiday flick it will be cursed with incessant replaying. Its a shame nothing ever came of this work and that more animated features were not made by Mr. Breathed. Viewers not familiar with Bloom County may be confused by the characters at first, (Bill the cat for example) but reading his strips are not necessary to enjoy the show. I give it 4 stars. It is not a christmas institution, but should be used as life preserver when you've had too much scrooge and too much of zu-zu's petals.

This is a light hearted, wonderful story of confused priorities and multiple epiphanies. The cinematic allusions are a delight, and the music is a Joy. It may prove a bit quirky for the strict traditionalist, but once you get over that, it wears extremely well. I am saddened to read that it is out of print; in these times of self-absorbed acquisitiveness, a DVD release might set in motion at least a tiny counterbalance of decency.

Its the little things that stick with you when a film gives you as big a chuckle as "A Wish For Wings That Work" gave me. Like Opus' backside falling off, and the gulls say "its like a tire....its replaceable!". Bill having been rescued from the science lab after "his brains were replaced with tater tots". Milhouse the cockroach, dressed in full drag, mistakenly showing up at the sensitivity group for flightless fowl, asking "is this Cockroach Cross-dressers in Crisis?". I have watched this treasure year after year since its one and only broadcast when my children were small, and my now grown kids and I never fail to hoot with laughter. What a gift!

I recorded this movie when it first came to air on TV. At first I didnt know what to think but after the second time around, it was an automatic classic for me. Now, I'm reviewing this as an adult. I really dont think kids will understand this movie no matter how many times they watch it. Its chock full of adult humor. (nothing off color)As todays adults are more and more into cartoons (Simpsons, Family Guy, Futureroma, King of the Hill) this is the pick for any of you. I'm glad the beautiful woman of my life (love you Deb)found this movie here and bought it for me, so I can have a studio copy of it. LONG LIVE BILL AND OPUS! "Ack"

Remembering, very fondly, from my childhood upon seeing the special when it came on TV, I am overjoyed to see that it has finally come to DvD!
The voice casting in this is very interesting.
Michael Bell (Chuckie's Dad, Chazz Finster - Rugrats) being the first to give life to Opus, John Byner (Gurgi - Disney's The Black Cauldron) as Bill, Alexandria Simmons as Ronald-Anne Smith, and Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman comprising of various other characters.

Despite Berkeley Breathed not liking the animated adaptaion to his work, I still consider it a classic story no matter what medium its presented in.

I look forward to November when it'll be available and I also look forward to when I can share this with my kids.