Mannequin: On the Move 1991

In a fantastical realm known as Hauptmann-Koenig, a handsome prince named William fell in love with a charming peasant girl, Jessie. Unfortunately, the prince’s mother was not in favor of their romance and conspired with her court magician, who ultimately tricked William into giving Jessie a cursed necklace. This fateful gift turned Jessie into a wooden statue for a millennium, or until her true love from another land could break the curse—whichever came first.

Fast forward nearly a thousand years, and Jessie has become an emblematic figure known as the Enchanted Peasant Girl, captivating the hearts of many in the village that now occupies Hauptmann-Koenig (which has transformed into a quaint German village). In a bid to revitalize tourism, the royal family decides to send a mannequin representation of the Enchanted Peasant Girl to the United States, specifically to Prince & Company department store in the vibrant Center City of Philadelphia. However, lurking in the shadows is Count Gunther Spretzle, a descendant of the original court magician, who is concocting a scheme to claim the medieval maiden as soon as the spell is lifted, along with royal valuables loaned to the store to fund his dream retirement in Bermuda.

To elevate the kingdom’s profile, the flamboyant Hollywood Montrose, played by Meshach Taylor, is given the responsibility of orchestrating an artistic event to promote Hauptmann-Koenig. With the fussy store manager Mr. James delegating tasks to new intern Jason Williamson, the hopeless romantic quickly becomes infatuated with the striking mannequin. Shortly thereafter, disaster strikes when the delivery truck transporting artifacts from Hauptmann-Koenig meets with an accident. As Jason swoops in to rescue what he thinks is a damsel in distress from the Schuylkill River, he discovers that it is merely the mannequin he has taken a shine to.

Upon returning to Prince & Company, Jason attempts to clean up the mannequin and, in a twist of fate, accidentally removes the cursed necklace, releasing Jessie from her long-held enchantment. She immediately recognizes Jason as the reincarnation of Prince William and they embark on a whirlwind romance through the lively streets of Philadelphia. Tragically, the next morning, Jessie, feeling compelled to wear the necklace again, finds herself transformed back into a lifeless figure, leaving Jason heartbroken and mystified as to how to reverse the spell that bound her.

With uncertainty hanging thick in the air, Jason takes the mannequin back to Prince & Company, only to be met by the Count intent on reclaiming his charge. After a series of laughable misunderstandings, Hollywood, in pure comedic chaos, tries on the necklace only to become a mannequin himself. Meanwhile, a disoriented Jessie roams the store hunting for her beloved, while the Count’s bumbling henchmen remain oblivious to the fact that the enchanted girl has escaped their clutches.

As the plot thickens, Jason and Hollywood, now united in their quest, race against the clock to find Jessie. Count Spretzle—turning more nefarious by the minute—is on their trail, seeking to ensnare the young couple into his machinations. When he ultimately regains control of the necklace, Jessie is once again ensorcelled. After a night in jail for Jason, the two friends devise a plan, and in a daring display during a live presentation, Jason removes the necklace in front of a large audience, reviving Jessie once more.

Faced with their newfound freedom, Spretzle retaliates by kidnapping Jessie in a hot air balloon, creating a thrilling chase that sees Jason clinging for dear life. In a poignant turn of events, Jessie manages to turn the tables and, with great courage, places the necklace on Spretzle, turning him into a mannequin. Jason and Jessie finally share a heartfelt embrace, and in a moment of serendipity, they topple the Count’s statue from the basket, reducing it to rubble on the ground below.

Upon returning to Hauptmann-Koenig, the now-decrepit mannequin of Count Spretzle becomes the centerpiece of their new heritage, while Jason and Jessie gleefully embark on their honeymoon, filled with hope and the promise of everlasting love.