Three Wishes
When Jane Holman is driving with her two sons, Tom and Gunny, she accidentally runs into a drifter, named Jack McCloud, who breaks his leg. Feeling sorry for him, Jane invites Jack and his dog Betty Jane to stay at her house until his leg has healed. After having some difficulties to adapt to this new lifestyle, Jack soon finds himself loved by the family and they all want him to stay. When he starts teaching baseball to Tom, who misses his father who's missing in the Korean War, the two of them develop a strong bond. Meanwhile, Gunny believes that there's more to Jack and Betty Jane than meets the eye, and he's determined to find out.
The film disappointed at the box office against its limited budget of $10.0M, earning $7.0M globally (-30% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the drama genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Three Wishes (1995) exhibits precise narrative design, characteristic of Martha Coolidge's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 55 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Jack McCloud
Jeanne Holman
Tom Holman
Gunny Holman
Main Cast & Characters
Jack McCloud
Played by Patrick Swayze
A mysterious drifter who brings magic and hope into the lives of a struggling family in 1950s suburban America.
Jeanne Holman
Played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
A single mother struggling to raise two sons while dealing with her husband's absence in the Korean War.
Tom Holman
Played by Joseph Mazzello
The elder son of Jeanne, a young boy dealing with his father's absence and the challenges of growing up.
Gunny Holman
Played by Seth Mumy
The younger son of Jeanne, an imaginative and sensitive child who forms a special bond with Jack.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jeanne Holman struggles as a single mother in 1955, working hard to provide for her two sons Tom and Gunny while dealing with financial stress and the absence of their father.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Jeanne accidentally hits a mysterious drifter named Jack McCloud with her car. He's traveling with his injured dog Betty, and both are hurt in the accident, disrupting the family's routine existence.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Jeanne actively chooses to let Jack stay longer and become part of their household. He begins working odd jobs around the neighborhood, integrating into their lives rather than just recovering and leaving., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Jack reveals he can grant three wishes, and the family begins to believe in his magical abilities. This false victory moment makes them feel anything is possible, but raises the stakes about what wishes truly matter., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jack collapses from his terminal illness, and the family faces the devastating reality that he is dying. The dream of their newfound family unit shatters, and they must confront loss and grief., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The family realizes the true magic wasn't in the wishes themselves, but in the love, faith, and transformation Jack brought to their lives. They choose to use their wishes wisely, focusing on what truly matters., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Three Wishes's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Three Wishes against these established plot points, we can identify how Martha Coolidge utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Three Wishes within the drama genre.
Martha Coolidge's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Martha Coolidge films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Three Wishes represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Martha Coolidge filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Martha Coolidge analyses, see Material Girls, Angie and Rambling Rose.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jeanne Holman struggles as a single mother in 1955, working hard to provide for her two sons Tom and Gunny while dealing with financial stress and the absence of their father.
Theme
Young Gunny asks about wishes and believing in things you can't see, introducing the film's central theme about faith, hope, and the power of believing in magic and second chances.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the Holman family's modest life: Jeanne's tireless work ethic, Tom's growing resentment about his absent father, Gunny's innocent optimism, and their tight-knit neighborhood community in 1950s suburban America.
Disruption
Jeanne accidentally hits a mysterious drifter named Jack McCloud with her car. He's traveling with his injured dog Betty, and both are hurt in the accident, disrupting the family's routine existence.
Resistance
Jeanne debates taking responsibility for Jack and Betty. Despite concerns about money, propriety, and what neighbors think, she allows Jack to recuperate in their home while Betty heals, setting up a temporary arrangement.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jeanne actively chooses to let Jack stay longer and become part of their household. He begins working odd jobs around the neighborhood, integrating into their lives rather than just recovering and leaving.
Mirror World
Jack connects deeply with the boys, especially Gunny, becoming the father figure they've been missing. His relationship with Jeanne begins to shift from gratitude to genuine affection and romantic possibility.
Premise
The "new family" dynamic flourishes. Jack teaches the boys life lessons, performs magic tricks, helps around the house, and brings joy back into their lives. Jeanne rediscovers happiness and the possibility of love, while the community watches with mixed reactions.
Midpoint
Jack reveals he can grant three wishes, and the family begins to believe in his magical abilities. This false victory moment makes them feel anything is possible, but raises the stakes about what wishes truly matter.
Opposition
Reality intrudes: neighborhood gossip intensifies, Jeanne's ex-husband returns wanting back into their lives, and Jack's mysterious illness worsens. The family must confront that their happiness may be temporary and wishes can't fix everything.
Collapse
Jack collapses from his terminal illness, and the family faces the devastating reality that he is dying. The dream of their newfound family unit shatters, and they must confront loss and grief.
Crisis
The family processes Jack's impending death. Jeanne and the boys struggle with how to use their remaining wishes, torn between trying to save Jack and honoring what he's taught them about selflessness and accepting life's terms.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The family realizes the true magic wasn't in the wishes themselves, but in the love, faith, and transformation Jack brought to their lives. They choose to use their wishes wisely, focusing on what truly matters.
Synthesis
The family makes their final choices about the wishes, says goodbye to Jack, and steps into their future forever changed. They apply the lessons he taught them about love, courage, and believing in the impossible.
Transformation
Years later, the family has thrived. They honor Jack's memory and the transformation he brought to their lives. What was once a broken family struggling to survive is now whole, believing in magic, hope, and second chances.