Take your family to Bloom County with the quirky perennial favorite Opus n' Bill in A Wish for Wings That Work, a whimsical, wacky cartoon treat that's as funny for grownups as it is fun for kids! From Pulitzer Prize-winn... more »ing author-artist Berkeley Breathed, it's a merry, madcap romp with Opus the earthbound penguin and his brain-fried feline cohort, Bill.
Wrestling with an unfulfilled wish to soar through the air like any other self-respecting bird, the plucky penguin decides there's only one person who can make his aeronautic dream come true: Father Christmas. Bill the Cat coughs up a wild idea that just may bring a holiday miracle, but when ol' St. Nick finds himself in hot water on December 24th, the fate of Christmas itself suddenly depends on the kind of heroism that only comes in a penguin-sized package! Will Opus come to the rescue and learn the value of being true to oneself?« less
"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."
A Wish for a DVD longer than 24 minutes.
Paul J. Mular | San Carlos, CA USA | 11/19/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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."
A Christmas Eve tradition in our family ...
Susan Hayden | Atlanta, Georgia | 12/18/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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 only it was on DVD!!
Scaper4life | United States | 12/17/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Opus Fans Unite!
M | Savannah, GA | 05/26/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."