I'm the type of person who will be all in on a film for being original and unique, regardless of the concept behind the film. For that reason alone, I found myself looking forward to one of Netflix's latest feature films in Unicorn Store. While I can't quite say it lived up to the promise that the trailer set in motion, I can say there are many positives to discuss and for those who do watch this movie, I believe it to be a good conversation starter. I really can't recommend this movie in general, but if you're a fan of quirky indie films with a whimsical feel, you may get a kick out of it. Let's dive in and discover what makes this movie as good as it is weird.
Following Kit (Brie Larson) after she has failed Art school, she takes a temp job at an office, where she has a boring daily routine, making her wish she was still a child, who loved unicorns. Stumbling upon an invitation to a store run by a strange man, she is given a newfound promise that may have her being able to own her own unicorn. The premise of this film is very silly and would never happen in reality, but I feel as though the point behind the script was to get inside the head of this offbeat character and I feel the movie, as a whole, accomplished that.
With all of that said, I believe the weakest aspect of this film is the store itself and the person running it, who is played by Samuel L. Jackson. Having shared the screen on numerous occasions, Jackson and Larson share some very enjoyable chemistry, but I feel that wasn't enough here to really sell me on the whole concept. Although I got the message the movie was trying to sell, his character, along with the idea behind the store he works at, just didn't quite work for me. The overall film worked more than this aspect, but it really detracted from the movie's entirety.
Personally, I feel as though the themes presented throughout this film are very well thought out and play out well throughout the final act. I even found myself slightly tearing up throughout certain moments, but the overall impact of the emotional core is hurt by the overall story itself. That fact that I couldn't buy into certain things hurt my enjoyment, but I enjoyed the cast together as a whole.
In the end, this is a very solid start for Brie Larson as a director and I believe she has enough talent to grow as a filmmaker in the years to come. She has incredible acting talent and the story surrounding her in this film really made for an enjoyable experience, but the second act really drags and makes the film feel very boring. That being said, the set-up is very well done and the conclusion of the film is quite satisfying, so for those reasons alone, I will give Unicorn Store a slightly positive score. A unique idea, buoyed by a mixed execution.
Following Kit (Brie Larson) after she has failed Art school, she takes a temp job at an office, where she has a boring daily routine, making her wish she was still a child, who loved unicorns. Stumbling upon an invitation to a store run by a strange man, she is given a newfound promise that may have her being able to own her own unicorn. The premise of this film is very silly and would never happen in reality, but I feel as though the point behind the script was to get inside the head of this offbeat character and I feel the movie, as a whole, accomplished that.
With all of that said, I believe the weakest aspect of this film is the store itself and the person running it, who is played by Samuel L. Jackson. Having shared the screen on numerous occasions, Jackson and Larson share some very enjoyable chemistry, but I feel that wasn't enough here to really sell me on the whole concept. Although I got the message the movie was trying to sell, his character, along with the idea behind the store he works at, just didn't quite work for me. The overall film worked more than this aspect, but it really detracted from the movie's entirety.
Personally, I feel as though the themes presented throughout this film are very well thought out and play out well throughout the final act. I even found myself slightly tearing up throughout certain moments, but the overall impact of the emotional core is hurt by the overall story itself. That fact that I couldn't buy into certain things hurt my enjoyment, but I enjoyed the cast together as a whole.
In the end, this is a very solid start for Brie Larson as a director and I believe she has enough talent to grow as a filmmaker in the years to come. She has incredible acting talent and the story surrounding her in this film really made for an enjoyable experience, but the second act really drags and makes the film feel very boring. That being said, the set-up is very well done and the conclusion of the film is quite satisfying, so for those reasons alone, I will give Unicorn Store a slightly positive score. A unique idea, buoyed by a mixed execution.