Review of Magic in the Moonlight (2014) by Dan S — 22 Aug 2014

There was so much potential in this film: a charming place and time, quirky characters, a clever ruse (or not) and the exploration of the age old existential question: Is there more to the universe than what we can sense? Too bad the execution was so poor.

The characters aren't sympathetic at all. Stanley Crawford never becomes likeable enough to root for. Instead he remains rather one-dimensional as he transitions from being self-centered, condescending and smug, to self-centered, weak and pathetic. Sophie becomes dull and intentionally unintelligent and uneducated, with little to offer other than her looks. Rationality aside, their pairing made less and less sense as the movie progressed. We never got to know Olivia (Stanley's fiancée) and Brice (Sophie's fiancé) well enough to understand why Stanley and Sophie would pick each other over the others who seem like much better matches. Some of the plot twists felt unnatural and forced and everyone, other than Aunt Vanessa, seemed to be phoning their performance in.

I kept waiting for something unexpected to happen but it was all flat and rather predictable, except for my reaction when the credits rolled: "Really Woody? That was it?".