Unicorn Store

So I go on Netflix and come across a movie called Unicorn Store. 'that sounds cute' (I thought to myself) 'let me just check IMDB really quick to see the score'. From then on I get bombarded with negative reviews, half of which seem to be more focused on Captain Marvel then this film. But whatever, I put that aside, because whatever bias I may or may not have towards Captain Marvel, I want to judge this film on its own.

So in short I saw the whole film and I liked it. For me is wasn't the kind of comedy that made me slap my knee because I was bursting out laughing so hard (except kinda on two occasions), this is the kind of humor that made me do a double take on what weird things a characters just said, snickering a bit in disbelief. To be fair, it's kinda a weird movie.

We follow Kit, a peculiar individual to say the least, as she is pressured into adult life whilst also receiving a task that can make one of her childhood dreams come true(You can guess from the title what that is). Now with the adulthood element the film offers a 'fish out of water' scenario for Kit, because as her name suggests, expect to see a kid in Brie Larson's performance. Most comedies star someone who doesn't want to grow up, but they're better described as immature, whereas Kit is a full-grown child. Personally I found this pretty refreshing. Brie Larson plays the role really well with such a childlike wonder and stubbornness for everything. And with naive curiosity she often asks weird questions or goes off topic because of her attention span. I found most of the other characters working really well with her, providing a bit of reality in what would otherwise be a child's fantasy.

The movie does have it's problems though. I found the middle part to be dragging a bit too much, as all the little plot points are slowly prepared for Kit's work and dream quest. And to be fair I really didn't enjoy the business plotline with Gary that much. That one fell a bit flat in characters and plot importance, providing also some of the lesser comedic moments in the film.

But it does pick up again for the third act, which was I really liked. It's the act where everything begins to clash between characters and where the film begins to pack a punch in the emotional department. The comedy is at it's best, providing possibly the film's most memorable moments, and delivers a satisfying ending to the story.

In technical aspects the movie is fine. The direction and cinematography work well, but aren't much to write home about. The production design in The Store was pretty good, otherwise also just fine. The music fits pretty well with the tone. The film kinda has a minimalistic feel to it in technical regards, to be honest.

But to wrap it up, I liked this movie. It's not perfect, but it's a fun watch with some nice little life lessons wrapped up in it. Kit's developing friendship with Mamoudou Athie especially I found really endearing. Samuel L. Jackson is gloriously weird and the parents amusingly dry. I recommend watching it for yourself. It's definitely worth checking out sometime. And hopefully I don't get lynched for liking Brie Larson :)

I was a little hesitant watching this from other reviews I've read, but I wanted to support Brie Larson on her direction debut. I was not disappointed. The movie is a bit slow to start, but it's great once the pacing gets going. Great casting and writing. It's perfect for the 20 or 30 something who felt like they were "weird" or different growing up or still find that they are still that way now. Great film about believing in yourself and also the impact of mental illness can have on your everyday life. Definitely recommend.

Immersed in a magical realm of glitter, rainbows and unicorns, Kit radiates happiness and positive energy to the outside world. Yet darkness begins to creep into her life. Kit is rejected from art school, cannot find a job or mate, and is subjected to constant needling from parents who are encouraging her to leave the nest. In the face of such pressure, feeling unappreciated and losing faith in her dreams and artistic abilities, Kit displays uncharacteristic behavior. She slips on a bleak business suit and obtains a job at a soul snuffing ad agency with a creepy boss. This is when mysterious invitations arrive at Kit's desk luring her into believing in unicorns again. Friends and family consider an intervention as Kit responds to the invitations, begins building a stable worthy of a unicorn and prepares to smother her unicorn with love.

Brie Larson directs the film and stars as Kit, a creative woman with a fierce desire to be seen for who she truly is. This delightful, quirky and charming film sparkles with feminine energy and pastel colors. Even Samuel Jackson, with a supporting role, is part of the magic and glow. As wonderful as the story is, it needs a little more sophistication and depth, and less straightforwardness. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival.

A girl gets invited by a mysterious stranger to go to a store to get a unicorn. She's wanted one her entire life despite the attempts by her zany parents to normalise her. Sound like a good plot? It's not, but Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson manage to pull this off and turn it into a sweet lovely film about life and dreams, and love and growing up. I think without Jackson and Larson this would have been a ridiculous film that no-one would like, but they made it work and I now forgive Larson for her searingly bad appearance in Kong.

Though the premise is loveably bold, and seemingly fun, Unicorn Store proves to be more awkward and poorly written than it would seem. Brie Larson is at most okay, in this even mess of a film, but its not nearly her acting that is concerning about this picture, but rather her stance as the director. The film seems tonally and emotionally off at times, and though you may want to blame it on the fact that it claims it is being weird, there is a big difference between being so and being random instead. It's not that being weird is necessarily a problem of the film either, but rather it doesn't seem to know how to do so. The film goes all over the place, not knowing what it wants to be, or what it wants to say most of the time. Samuel L. Jackson is by far the best part of this seemingly tv-made film, and makes the best of his poorly written lines/dialogue. In the end, Unicorn Store does make you believe in the magic it was trying to create. Only if it had a better way of getting to the message it was trying to convey, it just may prove to be a decent time. But instead, like the glitter it often uses, it just feels messy. My Rating: 4.75/10