All I Wish co-stars Sharon Stone and Tony Goldwyn as middle-aged lovers who fall for each other despite their different backgrounds and attitudes toward marriage. Written and directed by Susan Walter, this romantic comedy focuses on Senna (Stone, lovely as always), a single woman in Los Angeles who wants to be a successful fashion designer. Unfortunately, she doesn’t seem well organized or confident enough to make this happen.

However, we get to see the progress Senna makes by checking in with her on five consecutive birthdays. And we begin to understand the push-pull relationship between Senna and Adam (Goldwyn), the handsome lawyer who wants to help fund her fashion business. We also learn how much Senna values her mother Celia (the wonderful Ellen Burstyn) and her loyal best friend Darla (Liza Lapira).   

Although this unusual plot construction moves the story along at first, it becomes a bit repetitive. It also makes us feel like we are missing significant chunks of information about how and why relevant things have happened between Senna’s five birthdays. And sadly, most of the comedy bits don’t work as well as the dramatic scenes.            

Birthdays mark the passage of time.

Celebrating is not a crime.

“All I Wish” deals with one lady’s

forty-six to fifty birthdays.

Her mom -- always the first to call

with good wishes and love and all.

But when these two meet up for lunch

the mom brings up weddings and such.

“No marriage for me,” daughter claims.

She’s convinced; no man she blames.

Fashion designer is her goal.

But funding? Well, she’s in a hole.

Then, surprise! She does meet a man

who intrigues her as no one can.

Will these two find true love at last?

We hope so, but please make it fast!

A rom-com should offer some fun

before those endless credits run.

Also, co-stars lack chemistry.

Great actors both – a mystery!

Drama they do so very well.

But comedy? Hmm. Not so swell.

Still, “All I Wish” means well, that’s true.

It gives us hope love can re-new.

NOTE: Congratulations to writer/director Susan Walter for earning The Screenwriter Award at the 2017 WIFTS Foundation International Visionary Awards event for All I Wish, which then was titled A Little Something for Your Birthday.

(Released by Paladin; not rated by MPAA.)

For more information about All I Wish, go to the IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes website.