‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ is Trying to Make Us All Feel Better. Does It Put in the Right Effort?

March 13, 2024

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Do they find the magic? (CREDIT: Focus Features)

Starring: Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds, Nicole Byer, Rupert Friend, Aaron Jennings, Tim Baltz

Director: Kobi Libii

Running Time: 105 Minutes

Rating: PG-13 for Inflammatory and Cathartic Comments

Release Date: March 15, 2024 (Theaters)

What’s It About?: You know those movies with Black supporting characters who seem to only exist to help the white main characters realize their full potential? The Legend of Bagger Vance is often cited as the apex example. Morgan Freeman practically made an entire career out of it. It’s called the “Magical Negro,” and what the makers of The American Society of Magical Negroes presuppose is: what if people like that actually existed, and what if they indeed had access to real magic? Their newest recruit is struggling yarn sculpture artist Aren (Justice Smith), whose first assignment is babysitting up-and-coming tech worker Jason (Drew Tarver). Aren is certainly up for the task, as he has a lot of experience deferentially navigating privileged people’s cluelessness. But when both he and Jason develop romantic feelings for their co-worker Lizzie (An-Li Bogan), things get a little complicated.

What Made an Impression?: How to Be Supportive: When Aren is introduced to the Society, his mentor Roger (David Alan Grier) explains that the purpose of magical Negroes is making sure that white people stay calm and don’t become a danger to everyone else in the world. The implication is that everyday insecurities could eventually lead to a serial killer, so it’s best to nip that in the bud as soon as possible, although what we see in the movie is fairly low-stakes. But even when the threat of danger isn’t immediately urgent, the support that Aren, Roger, and their colleagues offer is always welcome. It mostly amounts to helping people fight against their self-doubts. In many ways, that’s just good friendship. Of course, a truly genuine friendship would consist of that support going both ways.
Bearing Too Much Weight?: While The American Society of Magical Negroes is clearly self-aware in its handling of this trope, I imagine it will be fighting an uphill battle against some viewers. Why, after all, should the burden of white fragility fall upon Black shoulders, magical though they be? That arrangement obviously isn’t fair, but it is often true to life, as the responsibility of cleaning up a mess frequently gets passed to those with the expertise of cleaning it up, rather than those who created the mess in the first place. But writer/director Kobi Libii doesn’t expect his characters to simply accept this state of affairs. They grapple with the dignity that they’re forced to give up, while also wondering if their methods really are the most effective option.
Finding an Alternate Solution: Ultimately, it quickly becomes abundantly clear that simply making Jason feel better is not Aren’s best course of action. But explicitly calling him out on his prejudices is liable to backfire. Furthermore, while Roger advises Aren to let the girl go, it’s clear that Lizzie is a lot more into Aren than she is Jason. Supporting Jason’s stated desires in favor of everyone’s else’s feels like it won’t make anyone happy, including Jason. Escaping the common strictures of society and thriving as a nourished individual clearly requires some creative thinking, whether or not you have access to superpowers. As for my verdict, I’m pleased to report that The American Society of Magical Negroes navigates that dilemma with a firm, but also playful touch.

The American Society of Magical Negroes is Recommended If You Like: American Fiction, Grand Crew, Turning the other cheek with a witty rejoinder

Grade: 4 out of 5 Teleportations

Should We Still Take Time to Notice ‘The Color Purple’ in 2023? Let’s Find Out!

December 19, 2023

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Look at all that purple in their souls! (CREDIT: Warner Bros. Pictures/Screenshot)

Starring: Fantasia Barrino, Phylicia Pearl Mapasi, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Halle Bailey, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Ciara, Aunjanue Ellis, Jon Batiste, Louis Gossett Jr., David Alan Grier, Deon Cole, Tamela J. Mann, Stephen Hill, Elizabeth Marvel

Director: Blitz Bazawule

Running Time: 140 Minutes

Rating: PG-13 for Slaps, Threats of Gunfire, and References to Even Worse Abuse

Release Date: December 25, 2023 (Theaters)

What’s It About?: Near the Georgia coast in the early 20th century, Harris sisters Celie (Phylicia Pearl Mapasi and Fantasia Barrino) and Nettie (Halle Bailey and Ciara) are each other’s best friends and dearest protectors. Love and support are valuable attributes for anyone, especially when you’re young, Black, and poor in the early 1900s. And they certainly need that connection when Celie is sold into an abusive marriage with Albert “Mister” Johnson (Colman Domingo), who is about as mean as they come. Nettie tries to move in with her sister to escape their abusive father, but Mister kicks her out, leaving Celie profoundly alone. But she gradually finds community in the colorful cast of characters who weave in and out of her small town, and she even eventually grasps a fair amount of independence for herself. All the while, she keeps Nettie in her heart despite all the forces trying to keep them apart.

What Made an Impression?: A Unlikely Dose of Fanservice: I must admit that I’m a bit of a Color Purple novice. I’ve never read Alice Walker’s 1982 novel, nor have I seen the Steven Spielberg-directed 1985 film. And I’ve never seen the musical production that premiered on Broadway back in 2005, which this film is most directly based upon. But I’m aware that it’s a deeply felt cultural touchstone for a lot of people. And that was abundantly clear at my screening, which featured one of the most receptive audiences I’ve been part of in quite a while. Seriously, the vibe was like the latest superhero movie on opening night, with the whoops and cheers crying out at every name in the credits, at the end of every musical number, and especially during a cameo appearance from one of the original film’s stars. While the crowd response made the power of this movie unmistakably clear, I like to think that I would have recognized it even if I’d been watching alone. After all, what we’ve got here is a simple formula, but an effective one: remain earnest and open-hearted in the face of the darkness, and your time will come.
Making a Meal Out of Their Characters: The current Color Purple cast has the benefit of audience members like me who are coming in fresh. But of course, they also have the disadvantage of everyone else who’s familiar with the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg in the original movie, or the likes of Cynthia Erivo and Jennifer Hudson in the stage version. Or in the case of Danielle Brooks, there’s the challenge of reprising a part she’s already played on the stage. Luckily, the biggest compliment I can deliver is that none of them are afraid to take on their assignments. The aforementioned Brooks and Taraji P. Henson both especially go for broke as the two biggest personalities in the ensemble, while Domingo finds shades of vulnerability in a monster. Meanwhile, David Alan Grier is predictably a wise old hoot as a local reverend. And as for Barrino, she capably handles the weight of a whirlwind of emotions on her shoulders and in the depths of her diaphragm. It all adds up to a balm for the soul.

The Color Purple is Recommended If You Like: Spiritual healing

Grade: 3.5 out of 5 Pants

‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’ is Worth a Watch If You Feel Like Being Silly

November 9, 2021

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Clifford the Big Red Dog (CREDIT: Paramount Pictures)

Starring: Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, Izaac Wang, John Cleese, Tony Hale, Sienna Guillory, David Alan Grier, Alex Moffat, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Russell Wong, Paul Rodriguez, Russell Peters, Mia Ronn, Kenan Thompson, Rosie Perez

Director: Walter Becker

Running Time: 97 Minutes

Rating: PG for The Nuttiness Caused by a Giant Puppy

Release Date: November 10, 2021 (Theaters and Paramount+)

What would YOU do if a 20-foot-plus red-furred dog started running around all over everywhere? I imagine most people would react with a mixture of shock and confusion, but in this particular pup’s cinematic adventure directed by Walt Becker (Wild Hogs, Old Dogs), there’s a wider range of reactions. Clifford is cause not only for sublime awe, but also for worries about being a good caretaker, or the impetus to justify eviction, or for a standard-issue evil mega-corporation to swoop in and claim that they own everything. And of course, he becomes a bit of a local neighborhood hero. People act very wacky in Clifford the Big Red Dog, in ways that are fairly typical of a family flick, but not always in ways that necessarily go hand-in-hand with the presence of a gigantic canine, and I appreciate that.

The plot essentials that you might want to know are that sixth-grader Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) finds herself with an incorrigible dog after an encounter in Central Park with the mysterious and magical Mr. Bridwell (John Cleese) and his animal emporium. Her Uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) isn’t so keen on her keeping Clifford, mostly because he wants to prove to his sister, Emily’s mom Maggie (Sienna Guillory), that he can be responsible. Meanwhile, Mr. Packard the super (David Alan Grier) doesn’t like dogs, and Tony Hale swoops in as a plainly devious CEO to capture Clifford and discover the secrets of his genetic code.

Obviously, something as kid-friendly as this movie is going to end with every character (except the most villainous or toady-ish) rallying around to save the day. So the most important question is: just how goofy do things get? And the answer is … pretty dang goofy. For a generally tame PG movie, there were several moments that had me delighting in their brazenness. A choice example happens when a veterinarian played by Kenan Thompson tries to gently inform us that Clifford’s temperature is supposed to be taken in the normal animal-temperature-taking location (“rhymes with nuthole”). And Clifford himself is as expressive as any real dog, so that plays well whenever there needs to be a definitive reaction shot.

So now the final question: do I want a big red dog of my own? My current living situation isn’t exactly the most dog-friendly, but let’s suppose I have a theoretically more welcoming setup. So with that in mind, I’d have to say: while a mutt like Clifford is great in a pinch whenever you need to run across a bridge, this movie isn’t shy about reminding us of the anatomical and practical matters that need can’t be avoided. Believing in magic can only take us so far, but we can always lighten the mood by saying silly things along the way.

Clifford the Big Red Dog is Recommended If You Like: Goofy uncles, Kid-friendly scatological humor, Standard kids movie tropes

Grade: 3 out of 5 Whimpers

Entertainment To-Do List: Week of 4/9/21

April 9, 2021

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Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! (CREDIT: Saeed Adyani/Netflix)

Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.

TV
-74th BAFTAs (April 11 on BBC America)
–Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! Season 1 (April 14 on Netflix) – Jamie Foxx plays a dad! David Alan Grier plays his dad!