Unicorn City

I saw this movie at Comic Con last year in Chicago, then again at The Chicago Comedy Film Festival. Both times I belly laughed throughout the whole film. A very smart film that isn't just for the Nerd, Dork, or Geek. In fact this movie does a great job at taking a genre that has gotten a bum rap over the years. The film makers did a great job at taking nerd humor and making understandable to everyone. The characters are likable and by the end of the movie you feel as though you where right next to them swinger axes at orcs and saving the fair maiden. This is a great movie that deserves to be watched and enjoyed by literally everyone who loves movies, comedies, and pop culture. Beware the Centaur he holds many secrets!!

I happened to come across "Unicorn City" by sheer random luck, and decided that I had to give it a go, especially since I have been playing D&D for some odd 28 years or so by now.

"Unicorn City" is fun for what it is, and I had to look past the whole LARP (live action role-playing) part, because I really don't grasp the concept of that. That being said, then the movie is entertaining and it does have a good story at heart. While it was no "Zero Charisma" or "Knights of Badassdom" it was its own style and held up its own right.

The story is essentially about Voss (played by Devin McGinn) who is kicked out of a local gaming group at the gaming store by their game master Shadowhawk (played by Jon Gries). In his quest to apply for an available at Warlocks of the Beach (yeah, the D&D fans will definitely get that pun) Voss sets out to start a utopia for gamers.

While "Unicorn City" is, what I would assume, a low budget movie, there is just something grander to the production value. The movie makers really pulled it off quite nicely with this movie. And the enthusiasm and levels of commitment by the actors and actresses also really helped add to that.

The people in the movie were doing great jobs with their given roles, and I was more than impressed by the fact that they had managed to get Jon Gries to be in the movie. He carried his role so nicely and really lifted up the movie quite a lot.

The costumes were fairly LARP-ish, but the whole centaur design that was just brilliant. I had such a laugh at that. Not because it was ridiculous, but because it was a stroke of amateurish genius.

If you are a gamer, be it pen & paper, LARP, online, etc. then you should give "Unicorn City" a view, because it is the kind of comedy that will put a genuine smile on your face.

This is a special film. Not everybody will get it but those who do get it will find that it warms their hearts and tickles their funny bone.

Anybody who ever rolled a d20 or has gone to a LARP (Live Action Role Play} will instantly become infatuated with the characters. A film for anybody who has painted miniatures; a film for anybody who loves orcs and pancakes.

The leading lady steals the show with a energy charged performance and the rich ensemble cast will keep you in stitches.

This is a talented group of filmmakers and I look forward to their future ventures.

Worth watching...twice.

First off, this is a movie focusing on Voss, an unemployed tabletop gamer who has anger issues and a difficulty separating his real life from his gaming life. He is flanked by younger brother Clancy and good friend Marsha, both who are members of his guild. Requiring money to help pay his share of the rent to his older brother Seth, he interviews for a gaming director's job only to find that he needs to prove his leadership skills in order to stand out. This is his catalyst for creating a gamers utopia out in the countryside for him and his fellow gaming friends. At first life is great in this fantasy world he has created. Then his arch-nemesis ShadowHawk, shows up to tempt the citizens of Unicorn City and cause havoc in Voss's life. Voss must come to terms with his life and determine what is important and what is merely fantasy.

I know I sat down to watch this movie with some reservations. I had preconceived notions it might seem too removed for a non-gamer to fully appreciate most of the movie. I was also worried that there would be a lot of "fantasy" scenes to deviate from what was the true meat of the story. I was extremely surprised to find at the movie that this is quite possible the most I have laughed at a movie so far this year. Sure the gaming aspect was a catalyst for most of the actions and jokes but the real punchlines were everyday frustrations. This is what makes it possible for everyone to find a way to relate to the characters. Also you can really sense the love that they have towards their gaming life. Everyone needs something to escape from their daily lives and this is what they are passionate about.

Some thing else that I loved about the movie is, that even though it was an indie film, it didn't feel like one. The production value was definitely very high, and this goes back to my worry that there would be too many "fantasy" scenes which can easily eat up budget. The acting was very strong in the lead roles with a few of the supporting roles needing a little bit of work. There was definitely a sense of chemistry among the cast that seemed to fill in the cracks where there was a bit of light acting. Many indie's are also plagued by poor sound and an atrocious score. While the sound was nothing per se special, it was still strong and the score was excellent at some points and not affronting during the rest of the movie.

Basically the production team most certainly put their time and money in all the right spots. They focused on story first, and then fundamentals. More movies today need to follow their lead, and learn that in the long run I am going to appreciate this movie more because I don't need a expensive movie setup to get the full experience. I just need to sit back, relax and enjoy. I encourage you to do the same and try help bring it to your city. Click here—–>Unicorn City, to go to their Facebook page where I hope you will like their page and click the widget on the left requesting it to a local theater. Help us spread the word about this wonderful piece of art and share it with as many people as possible. When they ask what it is like, respond that it's Role Models meets Napoleon Dynamite, with a dash of the Community for spice.

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The movie was very clever and had plenty of surprises along with a cast that was funny and lovable. There was a lot of character development along with an interesting plot that left the viewer entertained and wanting more. There were times in the theater where I could not stop laughing. Somewhat comparable to Napolean Dynamite or Nacho Libre except the main character was just a little too main stream. I would have preferred that he and some of the other characters be a little more nerdy or realistically into that Dungeons and Dragons kind of stuff. But obviously that may have been hard since a real hard core RPG dude would have been offended at the movie and maybe that's what makes this movie so funny.